Teachers forced to campaign

Several teachers working in Chiweshe, Rushinga and Kazangarare revealed that they had been integrated into the party’s structures against their will.

According to the Progressive Teachers Union Zimbabwe, seven teachers affiliated to the union died during the June 2008 elections and more than 60 others were victimised, intimidated and tortured.

The organisation stated that the 2008 election violence forced many rural teachers to migrate to neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana, while others sought refuge in urban areas.

A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity in Chiweshe said: “We were told that if we are not in the party’s structures, we belong to the Movement for Democratic Change. The political environment is getting tense and no one wants to be found on the ‘wrong side’ because we fear a repeat of the 2008 experience,” he said.

Another teacher from a primary school in Chief Kazangarare’s area revealed that the manipulation of teachers by politicians was one of the reasons teachers shunned rural schools.

“We are under strict instructions to conduct door to door campaigns for Zanu (PF). This is why most teachers do not want to be deployed to rural schools. At election time, we are either beaten up or forced to campaign for certain political parties against our will.”

PTUZ Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe, said his organisation was aware that teachers were being used to campaign for Zanu (PF).

“We have received reports that some of our members in these areas are being forced to join Zanu (PF) structures. We believe that there is no political party with a monopoly over teachers. They are citizens who must be allowed to choose a political party of their choice.”

He told The Zimbabwean that his organisation had engaged all the political parties to stop manipulating teachers and to ensure their safety against politically motivated violence.

Zanu (PF) spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo distanced his party from the reports and said it recognised that teachers are professionals who deserve their right to join a political party of their choice. “People who are forcing teachers to join our party structures do not belong to us. They are from the MDC and they want to tarnish the image of our party.”