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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Strikes and Protests 2007/8 - Teachers and Lecturers
PTUZ members under attack
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
February 14,
2007
Members of the
Progressive
Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) are under siege from the
state security agents and the Central Intelligence Organisation
(CIO) operatives. At around 10 am today, people claiming to be from
the President’s office stormed Seke 4 High School in Chitungwiza
and quizzed Jacob Rukweza , the PTUZ Harare Chairperson about the
ongoing strike by teachers.
Since last week
the PTUZ has been on a nationwide strike to press for better salaries
and better working conditions for teachers. At Seke 4 High School,
plainclothes officers from the Criminal Investigations Department
(CID) force marched teachers to the staff room and started to address
them about what they said were the dangers of dabbling in politics.
The officers issued a stern warning to teachers who are participating
in the strike threatening them with death.
Raymond Majongwe,
PTUZ Secretary-General has urged teachers to remain steadfast and
resolute about their demands. "We urge our members to remain
strong in the face of intimidation and death threats. Such action
by the State is obviously an affront to our freedoms as teachers
and cannot be accepted", said Majongwe.
Cases of intimidation
of teachers have also been reported in both Gokwe North and South.
It is reported that members of the CID and intelligence operatives
are moving around schools in the area compiling a register, including
national registration numbers for teachers who are participating
in the PTUZ action. The PTUZ Chairperson for Gweru, Obert Maravanyika
has also been quizzed by police and threatened with unspecified
action.
The Crisis in
Zimbabwe Coalition wishes to re-state the position that President
Robert Mugabe’s government is responsible for bad governance that
has left the country at the mercy of misguided elements who are
prepared to do anything in a bid to prop up the waning fortunes
of ZANU PF. A return to normalcy can only be achieved through the
necessary political will to honestly deal with grievances being
raised by teachers, nurses, doctors and other workers.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition fact
sheet
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