'Mugabe was bad, this is worse'

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has strongly condemned the abduction and torture of two Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) students, describing the assault as "barbaric and pure evil."

The victims, Marlvin Saint Madanda and Lindon Zanga, both members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), were reportedly abducted on Monday night at Mzimba Shopping Centre in Chinhoyi during Students Representative Council (SRC) campaign activities.

According to ZINASU, the pair was taken by unidentified men driving an unmarked grey Isuzu, a vehicle allegedly linked to individuals distributing campaign materials for their rivals, the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU).

The two students were later found in Shamva, about 120 kilometres away, bearing visible injuries and unable to sit or walk properly.

Narrating the ordeal, Zanga said they were tortured for more than 12 hours and accused of chanting slogans critical of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

"The abductors took us to a forest and accused us of campaigning and chanting slogans against Zanu-PF," said Zanga. "We told them we were simply conducting ZINASU campaigns, which had nothing to do with Zanu-PF."

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chamisa likened the attack to the state-sponsored brutality seen under the late former president Robert Mugabe, warning that the situation had become "even worse."

"Dear @PoliceZimbabwe, why should this terrorism and primitive brutality on harmless students and innocent citizens be allowed to continue? Mr Mnangagwa, why should this not worry or concern you? Mugabe was bad. This is worse. So barbaric. This is pure evil!" Chamisa wrote.

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has since called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter, urging authorities to protect students' rights to peaceful assembly, association, and academic freedom.

"These attacks threaten not just freedoms of assembly, expression, and association, but also the rights to education, non-discrimination, and participation in university life," Amnesty said in a statement.

"We urge the authorities to ensure that students can exercise their freedoms without fear of reprisals, intimidation, or torture."

The incident has reignited concerns over political violence and human rights violations ahead of student elections, with calls mounting for accountability and the protection of civic space in Zimbabwe's tertiary institutions.