06/23/2004

Jacob (not his real name) studied architecture at a university in Zimbabwe until the fall of 2003, when he was forced to flee to the capital, Harare, to protect himself from police threats based on alleged anti-government political activity. He is banned from re-enrolling in university and from obtaining employment, one of many young people who have become the victims of the politicization of every aspect of life in Zimbabwe.

Jacob and some other students disagreed with university authorities who had established a pilot security project on campus. This project took graduates (known as the Green Bombers or Youth Militia) from Zimbabwe’s notorious National Youth Training Centers and used them as “security guards” at the university. Zimbabwe’s National Youth Training Program has been accused of using youth to intimidate opposition party members in Zimbabwe. There are allegations that these “youth militias” use violence to disrupt elections and evict farmers and farm workers from land that is being seized in the “Fast Track Land Reform Program”. Jacob and other students challenged this project as the security guards were being used to determine which students were politically opposed to the ruling party of ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe.  

In August 2003, the police came to the house where Jacob rented a room looking for him. They threatened him and told him to give up his political activities. He told Refugees International that a directive was given to the University to evict him from campus due to his political action. The University expelled him and then the police arrested him for trespassing on campus. He was detained for six days. Although he did not go into details, it is obvious that this experience was damaging to him. Throughout our interview, Jacob twisted his hat in his hands nervously, staring at the floor, and sweating profusely despite the winter chill. He suddenly glanced nervously around the room as he told us, “I cannot go back to my place (location withheld) – I am wanted there.

“An average of 10 students a month are detained by the police and thrown out of the university for ‘political action’,” he continued. “I sued the university with the help of a human rights NGO for unlawful suspension. I won my case but I was visited again by the police and given 24 hours to leave the town.”

Jacob fled to Harare where he lived in a safe house for a few months until the funding for the NGO supporting him dried up. Now he relies on the kindness of friends to help him survive. “I have tried to enroll in other universities,” he told RI, “but I am on a list. I cannot enroll anywhere. They look for me and then will know where I am.”

Jacob is one of many of the generation of youth that is suffering due to the government crackdown on anyone suspected of supporting the political opposition. All over the country, students are barred from colleges and universities due to their suspected political allegiance to the opposition parties. Some of the lucky manage to escape to South Africa where they can continue their studies. Most flee to Harare where the size of the city protects them. There were once safe houses that they could live in but now they are dispersed throughout the city. All are barred from enrollment in any other college in Zimbabwe. They live in fear from being exposed to the police who are targeting them because of their perceived support of opposition parties.

Jacob is hoping to finish his degree at a university in South Africa. He has not been able to register yet but he hopes to start classes again via correspondence in September as he thinks it is too dangerous for him to try to leave the country. Jacob is also striving to organize assistance for other students expelled from public universities. He would like to help fund their accommodations and correspondence course fees to continue their education.