Ei-iE

Zimbabwean teachers are being severely targeted in the brutal reprisals now being meted out as Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party desperately cling to power. EI’s affiliate the Zimbabwe Teacher Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) both reported violence against teachers in the rural areas.

In the days leading up to the June 27 presidential run-off elections, the Movement for Democratic Change, its supporters and anyone suspected of promoting democracy in the country are experiencing severe repression. Teachers are particular targets as some stood as MDC candidates and many others served as electoral officials.

The PTUZ has informed EI that Simbarashe Chikomba, a teacher at Zaka Secondary School, died on 15 June at a Militia Base in Zaka Central. He had been abducted from his home the previous day.

Earlier, on 5 June, colleagues of Sheperd Chegwu, Headmaster at Katsukunya Secondary School in Mutoko District of Mashonaland East Province, found his dead body. Chegwu had been kidnapped two days earlier from his school residence. His body had many marks suggestive of severe torture and a gunshot wound in the head. Chegwu had previously been interrogated by "war veterans" and militia about actions taken by PTUZ members at his school to protest the governments' actions in the lead up to the presidential election. There are no signs that the police are taking any action to investigate his murder.

PTUZ also reported that three teachers were abducted on 13 June and are still missing. They are:

• K. Ndoro, a teacher at Vengere High School
• Chitombo of Dumbamwe Secondary School
• Hamadziripi, Headmaster of Nyahukwe Primary School

ZIMTA confirms that in rural areas, learning in many schools has become virtually impossible. In addition, pupils have been traumatised by witnessing brutal violence against their teachers in the classroom or the school compound, such as the headmaster of the Muzorori school, close to Harare, who was beaten in front of every one.

ZIMTA is assisting teachers who need medical and legal assistance, and is supporting those teachers who refuse to go back to their schools and ask to be relocated due to security concerns.

So far, national leaders of ZIMTA have not experienced victimisation, but grassroots members have been intimidated, says Richard Gundane, General Secretary of ZIMTA.

PTUZ deplores constant harassment by officials, who publicly accuse the union of “masterminding the defeat of ZANU-PF.” Raymond Majongwe, the PTUZ General Secretary, is labelled “the enemy.” PTUZ coordinators and members are being assaulted and abducted every day. A number of PTUZ local offices have also been closed down.

On 24 May, for example, police raided a hotel where PTUZ activists were holding a women’s empowerment workshop. They confiscated guest lists. The union leaders were forced to flee in order to escape arrest. “We view this as an attack on our trade union rights,” Majongwe said in an email to EI.

He wrote: "Hello good people, It is sad to let you know that violence against teachers is in fact increasing. Surveillance around us has increased badly. I am no longer sure of what's going to happen next. We will however keep praying that we pull through. PTUZ members are being targeted all round."

EI continues to systematically condemn any form of violence against teachers and requests that investigations be carried out into the murder and abductions of teachers. EI also expressed its deepest solidarity with the family, friends, colleagues, and students of the courageous educators.

For EI's Urgent Action Appeal launched on 16 May, please refer to the link below.