PTUZ blasts Zanu PF MPs for harassing teachers

By Tafadzwa Muranganwa

A teachers’ organisation has accused two Zanu PF legislators for threatening some of their members with expulsion if they strike.

According to Progressive Teacher Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou, Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna and Mangwe legislator Obedingwa Mguni have been threatening teachers in their respective provinces to report to work or risk expulsion if they join the industrial action that the teachers organisations have been encouraging.

“The behaviour of some honourables is surely dishonourable.

“Some rogue MPs have joined the band wagon of blaming teachers who have done so well with so little in Zimbabwe  with the most outstanding  being  Chegutu West, D. Nduna who threatened expulsion of all incapacitated teachers in his constituency,” said the PTUZ boss.

A message purportedly from Chegutu West MP was gleaned by Radio VOP which insinuated that teachers who abscond lessons will be expelled.

“Please send your children to schools as always for teaching, I have had a meeting with heads and teachers in Chegutu and was assured that the teachers will be at all schools to conduct lessons accordingly.

I therefore request parents to take down the names of teachers who will not come to school in order that the replacements be immediately received so that the children lose no learning time especially those who are writing exams this year.

It has also come to my attention that some teachers are opting for paid private lessons at their homes whilst bunking school lessons where government is paying them  ‘double dipping’

The requested information should be sent to me at the DAs office today by 1000hrs.

DT NDUNA (MP)

Chegutu West constituency.

Efforts to get a comment from   the legislator were fruitless but the secretary general of PTUZ Raymond Majongwe is said to have contacted the Chegutu  West MP following threats by people  who were saying had been sent by him whom he professed ignorance about.

Mangwe legislator   Obedingwa Mguni  is accused of usurping  authority by demanding that the Mangwe District Schools Inspector a Mr Nkomo  report to him  rather than his provincial bosses in Gwanda which was condemned by the PTUZ president.

“Mangwe MP O. Mguni’s   vitriolic attacks on Mangwe teachers and DSI leave a lot to be desired.

“ He has come out blazing, ignorantly though, that Mangwe DSI must report to him the situation in Mangwe District rather than reporting to his immediate provincial bosses in Gwanda,”charged Dr Zhou.

When contacted for comment ,the former deputy home affairs minister refuted the ‘threats’ allegations  saying  he just made an appeal  for teachers to go back to work while he as a former teacher  takes the grievances  to parliament.

“I am just appealing to the teachers to go back and educate the innocent souls and we   in Parliament will take over their fight,” said the Mangwe MP.

Teachers are currently in negotiations with government to review their salaries and have contemplated going on a wide spread their grievances are not met.