VOA
By Patience Rusere
Washington 28 February 2011
Union president Takavafira Zhou said that due to a rise in violence against teachers by ZANU-PF youth militia and war veterans, teachers are fed up and have decided to take action
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has resolved to boycott classes at any school where teachers are harassed or beaten up.
PTUZ President Takavafira Zhou said that due to a rise in violence against teachers by youth militia and war veterans associated with President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, teachers have decided enough is enough and are resolved to take action.
Zhou said his organization will be communicating the decision to Education Minister David coltart shortly. Coltart, who has previously declared the nation’s schools off-limits to political activities of the kind deployed by the PTUZ, could not be reached for comment.
Zhou told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere that schools countrywide have become operating bases for ZANU-PF youth militia. The youth militia were closely associated with the often deadly political violence that flared during the 2008 elections.