Zimbabwe and persecution of teachers

Sir, – Last week you carried a letter highlighting the accelerating political repression in Zimbabwe (September 15th).

Sadly, we in the teacher unions have had occasion to hear first-hand accounts of its impact on education. Visiting Dublin in June to receive his Frontline Defenders Award, Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, gave us a graphic description of how, in preparation for the presidential election in 2023, local Zanu PF “chiefs” are closing schools for day-long political rallies at which refreshments and entertainment must be provided by the pupils. When teachers objected to these closures, they were arrested. In Obert’s case, he was arrested, tortured, released, rearrested, and is now facing multiple criminal charges.

As educators, we are deeply concerned by the impact of school closures on Zimbabwean children’s right to education. The impact of Covid pandemic had a disastrous impact as poverty prevented millions of children from accessing the online alternatives. In 2011 the country’s international poverty rate – $1.90 per person a day – was half that of sub-Saharan African. By March 2020, it was on par with the rest of the continent at 42 per cent. Educators, including Obert Masaraure, have warned of a slide towards widespread illiteracy if schools continue to be arbitrarily shut and teachers diverted from their professional work.

Almost 40 per cent of the Zimbabwean population is under 15 years of age. They must have access to education: the future of Zimbabwe depends on them. We call on the Zimbabwean authorities to stop arbitrary school closure, stop the repression of teachers and their union leaders and give youth a chance. – Yours, etc,