By Dorrothy Moyo | ZANU PF youths allegedly threatened teachers with violence if they do not return to work by Tuesday 13th October.

The union of 8 teachers’ organisations from around the country announced saying,

“ZANU PF Youths have threatened to attack all teachers who are in rural schools but not reporting for duty.

“Teachers have been given an ultimatum expiring on Tuesday 13 October. Violence will not capacitate poor trs. @edmnangagwa restrain your party youths. Pay us USD 520. ”

Meanwhile, the organisation also released the following statement, titled – “Teachers’ Incapacitation”
11 October 2020
 Now that we are about to reach the Armageddon of our incapacitation
struggle as witnessed by more teachers joining the action and schools
being deserted;
 Worried that His Excellency, President E. D. Mnangagwa made remarks
threatening teachers on industrial action before seeking engagement and
remaining indifferent to the plight of the teachers;
 Observing that the $600 million meant for Covid-19 purposes did not
filter into the schools as evidenced by acute shortage of PPEs and other
Covid-19 abatement items in most of the schools;
 Aware that Government is still acting in denial about the situation in our
schools as evidenced by their threats to fire teachers or cease their
salaries and pretending that the school system is functioning normally;
 Shocked by some acts of ‘benevolence’ in the form of food handouts by
some misguided elements who want to hijack the teachers’ incapacitation
for personal aggrandizement.

Therefore, we, the undersigned teachers’ representatives, do hereby
reiterate that:
 No amount of force or threat can capacitate teachers who have all tested
positive to poverty. The employer should swallow her pride and do the
right thing.
 The nation should know that teachers in all public schools are not at
work because the government has failed them and will not succumb to
any threats. Where there are incidents of teaching taking place, it is just
cosmetic.
 Teachers are not for charity but professionals who are only crying for
dignified treatment, reasonable salaries and befitting conditions of
service.
 It is only through meaningful engagement, improved salaries,
eradication of discrimination among government workers, assurance of
health and safety of teachers and pupils during this Covid-19 period, and
harmonisation of labour laws that teachers’ return to schools can be
guaranteed. Once government brings meaningful offer, teachers are
ready to report for duty thereafter.
 We, as teachers, want a separate collective bargaining board where we
can then articulate the education specific issues unlike the current
scenario where the education sector is bunched up with everyone else.
 Teachers should remain resolute and focused on our demands. All
pusillanimous tendencies should be a thing of the past going forward.
Teachers should encourage those who are still reporting for duty to join
others in showing government that we deserve better.

Teachers are not against parents and students. In actual fact, what
teachers are simply saying is that it is very dangerous to entrust the
future on learners in the hands of a frustrated, poorly remunerated and
stressed teachers. Once the impasse is resolved, teachers will do
everything possible to help their learners.
 President E. D. Mnangagwa should not ignore the plight of teachers. We
don’t want to believe that he would want to be remembered for
destroying the education system of this country.

The party was still to comment on the allegations at the time of writing.