The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) has received disturbing reports of the victimization of teachers in Wedza district by an identified leader of the ruling Zanu PF party, a Kahonde, who participated in a campaign of terror in schools to coerce teachers, forming Zanu-PF cells and threatening them with indefinite action.
This is a worrying trend, although not a new phenomenon under the iron fist of Zanu PF, which is characterized by coercion and threats.
Worryingly, cases of teachers being forced to join the Zanu PF line are on the rise, especially as the country heads towards elections in 2023 and dark memories of 2008 are rekindled by this type of reckless behavior.
Teachers are not political pawns used by those in power.
Artuz strongly condemns forcing teachers to participate in political party activities.
The role of teachers in societies is to educate students, not to promote political parties. Zanu PF has consistently abused the school system to stay in power.
Artuz fears this situation could spiral into chaos and violence, as has happened in the past, when teachers have been kidnapped, tortured or even killed for not supporting ruling party agendas.
Artuz urges the Zimbabwe Republic Police to initiate an immediate investigation into the victimization of teachers in Wedza and use all means available to them within the law to end such a direct attack on the constitution and the profession teacher.
Artuz is following these events closely and will not hesitate to name and blame the perpetrators of such acts.
- ARTUZ
