AMALGAMATED Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) has
resolved to engage the Joint Operations Command (JOC) to seek protection of its
members in remote areas, who are allegedly facing harassment and intimidation
from suspected State security agents.
The resolution was made at the union’s congress, which
ended on Friday in Gweru.
Part of the resolution reads: “Union will engage the Joint
Operations Command (JOC) to lobby them to stop the victimisation of teachers.
Artuz will run its Safe Schools Campaign with special focus on litigation and
advocacy. Teachers to actively work as human rights defenders, defending their
labour rights and the right to education for the learners.”
Artuz president Obert Masaraure yesterday told NewsDy that
their leadership would meet JOC at national level.
“We will meet them at national level to explain our
ideological stand point and what we seek to achieve. Our security sector is
constituted by civil servants like ourselves. We are confident that if we
engage we can find common ground,” he said.
“Our politicians are notorious for turning workers against
each other. That must end. Our State security should protect the broader
interests of the State, not private interests of individual politicians.”
Artuz last year reported that its members in rural areas
were facing intimidation from suspected State security agents after they had
declared incapacitation and stopped reporting for duty.
The union also resolved that its members would not report
for work when schools open tomorrow citing incapacitation.
Meanwhile, Masaraure was given a fresh mandate as the Artuz
president after being elected uncontested.
The same happened to the union’s secretary-general, Robson
Chere. Newsday
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