CiZC condemns police brutality against teachers

THE Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is deeply disturbed by the continued police brutality against teachers demanding a living wage.

On January 12, 2022, armed police in Harare disrupted a peaceful demonstration by disgruntled teachers under the banner of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz), who were demanding salaries pegged in United States dollars. During the disturbances, 15 teachers were arrested while several others were injured as a result of police brutality.

CiZC spokesperson and Artuz president Obert Masaraure was among those who were brutalised and arrested by the police.

CiZC is dismayed by the fact that the government continues to respond with brute force to genuine calls for a living wage in a highly inflationary environment.

What is more disturbing is the fact that the government continues to show insincerity towards addressing the plight of teachers and civil servants at a time when corruption and looting by the political elite is rampant. We continue to witness more talk and no action inasfar as addressing the plight of teachers and civil servants is concerned.

As CiZC, we stand in solidarity with the teachers who together with other civil servants, continue to receive slave wages.

We call upon teachers' unions across the country to unite in demanding a living wage and resist the divide and rule tactics being employed by the government.

We implore the State to uphold citizens' constitutional right to protest which is guaranteed in section 59 of the Constitution as well as the right to fair labour practices as prescribed under section 65.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition