Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has condemned the abduction and torture of two students from the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) during a recent Students Representative Council (SRC) election campaign. The students, Marlvin Saint Madanda and Lindon Zanga, who are members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), were allegedly taken by unidentified individuals driving an unmarked grey Isuzu vehicle on Monday night.

According to ZINASU, the vehicle had previously been seen on the CUT campus distributing campaign materials for the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU), a rival student organization. The two students were later found in Shamva, approximately 120 kilometers from the abduction site, with visible injuries and unable to sit or walk properly.

The students reported being tortured for over 12 hours, accused of chanting slogans against the ruling ZANU PF party during their campaign. However, they maintained that their campaign was solely focused on ZINASU and had no connection to the ruling party. Chamisa described the incident as “barbaric and pure evil,” drawing comparisons to the atrocities committed during the tenure of former President Robert Mugabe.

Chamisa expressed concern that the current wave of repression is “even worse” than during Mugabe’s rule, where opposition activists were frequently abducted, tortured, and killed for criticizing the administration. He called on the authorities to investigate the incident and protect the rights of students to peaceful assembly and association.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has also urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack, emphasizing the importance of protecting students’ rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The organization stated that such attacks threaten not only these freedoms but also the rights to education, non-discrimination, academic freedom, and participation in university public life.

The incident has sparked concerns about the safety and well-being of students in Zimbabwe, particularly those involved in political activities. As the investigation into the abduction and torture of the two students continues, there are growing calls for the authorities to ensure that students can exercise their rights without fear of reprisals, intimidation, or torture.