Zimbabwe students abducted and tortured during election campaign

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 victims, Marlvin Saint Madanda and Lindon Zanga, are members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). According to ZINASU, they were taken on Monday night by unidentified individuals driving an unmarked grey Isuzu vehicle that had previously been seen on the CUT campus distributing campaign materials for the rival Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU).

The two students were later discovered in Shamva, about 120 kilometres from the abduction site, with visible injuries that left them unable to sit or walk properly. They reported being tortured for more than 12 hours and accused of chanting slogans against the ruling ZANU‑PF party during their campaign. However, they insisted 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 parallels to the atrocities committed during former President Robert Mugabe’s tenure. He warned that the current wave of repression is “even worse” than under Mugabe, when opposition activists were frequently abducted, tortured, and killed for criticizing the administration. Chamisa called on authorities to investigate the case and protect students’ rights to peaceful assembly and association.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has also urged a thorough investigation, emphasizing the need to safeguard students’ freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. The organization warned 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 raised serious concerns about the safety and well‑being of students in Zimbabwe, especially those involved in political activities. As the investigation continues, there are growing calls for authorities to ensure that students can exercise their rights without fear of reprisals, intimidation, or torture.