THE NGO NETWORK ALLIANCE PROJECT - an online community for Zimbabwean activists  
 View archive by sector
 
 
    HOME THE PROJECT DIRECTORYJOINARCHIVESEARCH E:ACTIVISMBLOGSMSFREEDOM FONELINKS CONTACT US
 

 


Back to Index

Arrest of PTUZ Leadership a Sign of Desperation
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
October 10, 2002

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) condemns in the strongest of terms the arrest, harassment and assault of the leadership of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) that include the Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe, President, Takavarasha Zhou and Secretary, Charity Chipuwiro.

The industrial action the teachers have embarked on is a legitimate struggle for the upgrading of the deplorable and appalling working conditions of teachers who have been reduced to paupers by a selfish regime yet they continue to deliver loyal, valuable and patriotic services to the nation. It is high time that the teachers' remuneration is commensurate with the value of the services they render. The NCA is dismayed by the gross incompetence of the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture who should be responsible for the welfare of teachers yet he has the audacity to prioritise trivial issues like changing of school names at the expense of a living remuneration for teachers.

The arrest of the PTUZ leadership through the use of obscure sections of the infamous and draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA) shows the extent of desperation confronting the illegitimate regime at the helm of Zimbabwe's governance. Instead of seeking to provide workable and permanent remedies to Zimbabwe's problems, the Mugabe regime sees wisdom in quashing and stifling all progressive voices through enactment and abuse of draconian and fascist pieces of legislation like POSA. By arresting the PTUZ leadership, the government is not arresting the plight of the teachers.

It is high time that Zimbabweans know that this irresponsible behaviour and abuse of excesses of power by the government of Zimbabwe is caused by the defective Constitution of Zimbabwe which allows the government to be unaccountable and reckless. The condition of the teachers is just a tip of the iceberg as far as injustices in Zimbabwe are concerned. Furthermore, the arrest and torture of the PTUZ leadership is one of the countless cases in which this rogue regime has employed terror tactics against voices of dissent. Many Zimbabweans fighting for democratic space in Zimbabwe including members of the NCA have had atrocities and terror being unleashed on them by the government and Zanu PF militants.

Zimbabwe is in a serious political, social and economic quagmire at the hands of the irresponsible Zanu PF regime, which has proved its incapability in muting a panacea out of this-state of affairs engendered by its ill-conceived policies. Instead, of concentrating on redeeming the shattered economy the regime has perfected the art of repression and suppression through perpetration of evil and human rights abuse using the Police, Army, ClO and Zanu PF militants.

What disturbs the mind is that the regime always find justification for its uncouth and Satanic acts from the defective Constitution of Zimbabwe. It is high time that Zimbabweans stand up and demand a new, democratic and people-driven constitution upon which good governance is founded. A new constitution is the only permanent solution to the problem of bad governance Zimbabwe finds herself in.

Issued by the NCA Information Department

Visit the NCA fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP