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Teachers day commemorations disrupted
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)
October 05, 2006

Police details in Masvingo disrupted the commemoration of the World Teachers Day which was organised by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) an affiliate of the ZCTU.

Reports from Masvingo indicate that some Police details even spent the night milling around ZCTU offices where the commemorations were supposed to be held. The Police cordoned off the ZCTU offices this morning and also closed off the road leading to the offices.

Raymond Majongwe, the Secretary General of the PTUZ reported that he was intercepted by two police officers this morning on his way to the venue and was threatened with disappearance if he went ahead with organising the event. Majongwe reports that the police also threated to beat up any one who was going to go into the meeting venue.

The police wanted to know why the PTUZ had invited the Mayor of Masvingo to be guest speaker at the commemorations and why the PTUZ wanted to use the ZCTU boardroom for the event.

As a result of police presence, teachers who were gathering for the event have since dispersed as the police kept on threatening to beat them if they continued the celebration of World Teachers Day.

This incident follows the arrest and assault of ZCTU leaders and activists on 13 September 2006 during a ZCTU organised demonstration.

It seems the Police have been given the licence to take the law into their own hands in their attempt to supress any dissenting voices among the suffering Zimbabwean populace.

The ZCTU therefore condemns the action by the Police to deny the PTUZ the opportunity to commemorate World Teachers Day an annual and international day which gives chance to teachers to discuss about their profession.

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