Daily News
By Chengetai Zvauya
14 October 2011
Harare -Â Police have barred members of Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) from marching in the streets of Harare to demonstrate against the continued harassment of teachers countrywide.
They wanted to demonstrate against the dismissal and victimisation of teachers who were given a blanket amnesty by the coalition government in 2009 to return to work after they had absconded from their duties seeking greener pastures in neighbouring countries.
PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the union had mobilised its members to march along Julius Nyerere Way to National Social Security (NSSA) building in the city but were stopped by the police.
“Teachers given amnesty to return back to their teaching stations are being victimised and dismissed from their work. The amnesty has ended and this is what we want to demonstrate against,†said Majongwe.
PTUZ petitioned the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture with demands they needed addressed including the non-payment of salaries for some teachers who were blacklisted for their perceived support of the MDC.
Some have not been paid since their reappointment March in 2009.
David Coltart Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture said he did not support the non-payment of the teachers who were given amnesty in 2009.
“When we announced amnesty to the teachers we agreed as cabinet that they must be paid, and that the political victimisation of the teachers has to stop,†said Coltart.
PTUZ is teacher union body with membership of 15 000 countrywide.