ZIMBABWE: Mass arrests at school fees protest

On May four, hundreds of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) marched through central Bulawayo to government offices at Mhlanhlandlela, demanding that crippling school fee increases of up to 1000% be reversed. The marchers sang as they distributed the May edition of WOZA's newsletter, Woza Moya. Many students, some as young as seven years old, marched in school uniforms — possibly the last time they would wear them if they were not able to return to school the following week. Student are not admitted if they have not paid their fees. As a result of the sky-rocketing fees, some families have admitted keeping their daughters home from school to help with housework while only sending their sons to school. As the march began to disperse, riot police arrived and arrested some 100 women and 73 children.

From Green Left Weekly, May 10, 2006.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 667