Artuz concerned over Zanu PF victimisation of teachers

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) has received disturbing reports of teacher victimisation in Wedza district by an identified ruling Zanu PF party official, one Kahonde, who has been on a terror campaign around schools forcing teachers to form Zanu PF cells and threatening them with unspecified action.

This is a disturbing trend, despite that it is not a new phenomenon under Zanu PF’s iron fist rule characterised by coercion and threats.

It is worrying that cases of teachers being forced to toe the Zanu PF line are increasing, especially as the country heads towards the 2023 polls and grim memories of 2008 are resuscitated by this kind of reckless behaviour.

Teachers are not political pawns to be used by those in power.

Artuz condemns in the strongest possible terms the forcing of teachers to partake in activities of political parties. The role of teachers in societies is to educate pupils and not to campaign for political parties.

Zanu PF has constantly abused the school system to maintain its grip on power. Artuz is worried that this situation will degenerate into chaos and violence as witnessed in the past, where teachers have been abducted, tortured or even killed for failing to support the ruling party’s programmes.

Artuz calls upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police to launch an immediate investigation into the victimisation of teachers in Wedza and use every resource at their disposal within the framework of the law to stop such a direct attack on the Constitution and the teaching profession.

Artuz is keeping a keen eye on these events and will not hesitate to name and shame the perpetrators of such actions.