A student leader at the University of Zimbabwe remained in police custody on Friday following his arrest Wednesday on charges he destroyed university property, and two other student leaders were arrested in connection with campus disturbances.
Lawyer Tafadzwa Mugabe, representing student activist Tineyi Mukweva, said it was likely their clients would spend the weekend in jail. But he said he and attorneys from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights would seek a court order for their release.
The arrests followed a demonstration at the University of Zimbabwe last week over the closure of dining facilities, sharply higher tuitions and deteriorating living conditions.
Mugabe told reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the continued arrests of student activists straining the capacity of the judicial system.
Students have not been attending class as university lecturers are on strike. Sources said the lecturers expect to meet with university and government officials Monday.