HARARE – Obert Masaraure, the president of the Amalgamated Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and a vocal human rights campaigner, revealed on Tuesday that he has been fired from his job as a schoolteacher, allegedly as punishment for leading civil servants’ campaigns against poor remuneration and human rights abuses.
Masaraure, a fierce critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, announced on Tuesday that his contract had been terminated by the government.
“Today I received a summary dismissal from my teaching post. The letter dated 30 March was pregnant with lies, but because no one accorded me right to be heard they acted on falsehoods. I have served the government since May 2014 and they chose to just terminate my contract,” he posted on X.
Masaraure, who was a chemistry teacher, revealed that he was fired at a time when the nation was experiencing shortage of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) tutors.
“It’s so heart wrenching that we have a shortage of STEM teachers. Some of us are willing to serve under the difficult working conditions.
“The ruling elites choose to invest everything to block us from teaching. They are punishing learners not me.We will however protect our learners,” he said.
Gift “Ostallos” Siziba, a political activist and former MP, condemned the government decision by questioning its priorities when the country is lacking STEM teachers.
“ARTUZ President Masaraure is a STEM teacher in a country that is losing teachers leaving the country due to poor remuneration. The regime has expelled him without due process. This is the challenge with the regime in Harare.
“Instead of addressing the issues raised by the teachers and civil servants, it decides to punish their representatives. We have to wage a collective fight. It’s homeland or death,” Siziba said.
Another political activist Morgen Komichi, said the dismissal of Masaraure, “is a direct victimisation of Trade Unionists and Opposition Activists in Zimbabwe”.
“Yet so many civil servants actively support Zanu-PF. Zanu-PF is rapidly closing up the Democratic Space in Zimbabwe.”
Before the opening of this school term, ARTUZ, led by Masaraure, resolved to stage a sit-in protest until a salary review was announced.
The committee vowed to take a three-pronged approach, which includes sitting in until their salary demands are met, organising #BusStopProtests to demand state-funded education, and refusing to teach the outdated curriculum beyond February 1, 2024, unless their demands are addressed.
Masaraure, who had been arrested and detained in 2022 for his fearless advocacy on behalf of marginalized rural teachers, received a highly respected human rights award from Front Line Defenders in Dublin.
This annual award honors exceptional human rights defenders, acknowledging their dedication and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Kunzima
Initially reports indicate that he was fired for absenteeism this is another version of his story