MUTARE In its desperate attempts to win back supporters in Mutare West, Zanu (PF) has deployed youth militias and war veterans to rural schools where they have set bases to force teachers to conduct lessons.Many rural and urban teachers are on strike demanding a net salary of US$450 per month. The government has since told the teachers that it does not have that money at the moment.
However, the teachers on strike are being labelled MDC supporters who voted against the Manicaland governor Chris Mushowe during the March 2008 elections.
Shuar Mudiwa of MDC T pipped Mushowe to win the Mutare West seat.
The militia and war veterans led by one called Machiridza have been moving door-to-door forcing teachers to report for duty at various schools.
We have been told to vacate the area if we do not want to teach their children. We are being threatened to chant Zanu (PF) slogans and propagate their policies. They accused us of supporting MDC and they have said we are tarnishing the image of President Mugabe going on strike, said a teacher at Mt Dema School.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has confirmed intimidation of members in some schools in Manicaland and has visited the schools that have been affected.
An official from ZIMTA offices in Mutare said: We have visited the schools affected and spoken to some militias and war veterans there. They have denied the allegations and have said that they were party officers.
Schools in some parts of Manicaland are being used as an important cog in the Zanu (PF) constitution making machinery to intimidate MDC supporters.
Some traditional leaders in the area are against the idea and have been raising their concerns to the authorities but nothing has been done.
We want peace in our areas. The villagers are now tired of violence by the youth from Zanu (PF). My people have suffered enough and there is need for peace. Teachers are important to us and I dont think that harassing them will solve anything, said headman Chamutsa.
Post published in: News