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2019 a bad year for teachers: ARTUZ

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) have described 2019 as a difficult year as the state of used abduction and torture to silence them from speaking out against the welfare of teachers.

Reflecting on the year, ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure said the president Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration used brutal force to try and deal with protests.   

โ€œOur members have been victims of abduction and torture by the state to silence us when we were demanding a living wage,โ€ said Masaraure.

According to the union, seven cases of abduction were recorded in 2019.

โ€œObert Masaraure was abducted twice in Harare, Robson Chere twice in Goromonzi, Munyaradzi Ndawana once in Chinhoyi, Godfrey Chanda once in Gweru and Mackswell Basiyavo once in Guruve,โ€ he said.

โ€œThese abductions were clearly orchestrated by the State given the weapons that were carried by the abductors, some of the victims would end up being dumped in police cells.โ€

Masaraure said victimisation of teachers will have a negative impact on the education sector.

โ€œWe have a paranoid government running our nation. They are afraid because they know people are angry with their gross incompetence andย wholesale looting. The government does not care for the livelihoods of the people.

โ€œVictimisation of teachers spells disaster for our education, teachers are highly demoralised and this will negatively impact on service delivery. Social services are likely to collapse across all sectors and the majority of our people will sink into deeper poverty,โ€ he said.

 Masaraure said hopes of reforms continue to evaporate as the human rights situation continues to worsen.

โ€œThe human rights situationย is worsening by the day and all hopes of reforms have evaporated. Theย ARTUZย social welfare secretary also recorded 29 arrests, 31 salary cessation, 12 evictions from school residence and 1 157 union-based discrimination,โ€ he said.

Masaraure said they will continue to take the fight to the government and will push for the restoration of social services and improvement of livelihoods of the ordinary citizen.

Senzeni Ncube

Senzeni Ncube is an accomplished journalist based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with seven years of experience in hard news, investigative writing, fact-checking, and a keen focus on social development, mining, elections, and climate change. She has extensive expertise in reporting community service delivery issues, demonstrating a deep understanding of politics, human rights, gender equality, corruption, and healthcare. Additionally, she possesses proficiency in video production and editing and is dedicated to providing high-quality journalism that highlights crucial social matters and amplifies the voices of the community. Senzeni is known for her thought-provoking interviewing skills.

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