Militia terrorises teachers

Already the Deputy Headmaster, Abel Nyakasanga, has left the school as Zanu (PF) youths are baying for his blood.

Last week police from Mutawatawa could not contain the rowdy youths who disrupted lessons saying that only teachers from the area should remain stationed at the school.

A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said fear was pervasive at the school. “The atmosphere is very tense as close to a half of the teachers are said to be on the list, we are no longer walking during the night or even visiting Katiyo Council Beer hall where Zanu (PF) youths have their meetings, said the teacher.

Despite the relative peace that is currently prevailing in most urban areas, the same is not true of rural areas where strangers have to report to the Zanu (PF) DCC.

The youth chair who led the demonstrations at the school is dreadlocked Parry Katiyo, According to teachers, police from Mutawatawa were helpless as Zanu (PF) youths threatened to descend on outsiders and only the timely intervention of police from Mrewa some 50 km away saved the lives of the teachers who locked themselves in the classrooms.

“The Ministry of Education only processes transferences during the holiday and this has put us in a very difficult position. Even though we are still teaching we cannot wait for the holidays and leave this place, said the teacher.

Ministry of Education Provincial officials in Marondera confirmed that hundreds of teachers in remote parts of Mashonaland East have applied to be transferred because of rising cases of intimidation.

Mugabe’s regime has systematically targeted teachers in the rural areas, with several teachers in Mashonaland East having been slain during the 2008 violent election run-off. Fungi Kwaramba