We Are Not Victimising Them - Govt Denies Victimising 2 ARTUZ Leaders After Freezing Their Salaries Since Last Year's January Protest

It has emerged that the government has not paid Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) leader Obert Masaraure, and the union’s secretary-general, Robson Chere, since they allegedly took part in the watershed January 2019 protests, The Standard reports,

Speaking to the publication, Masaraure said for the past 18 months he is told his salary is still being processed:

During my abduction, the state security operatives severely tortured me and later dumped me at Harare Central Police Station. I was charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government. The charge emanated from my alleged role in organising protests staged from 14 to 16 January 2019.

I spent 16 days in remand prison and was later released on bail. Upon my release, I learnt that my salary had been ceased by my employer. This was cruel as I had communicated my ordeal to my supervisor, who is the school headmaster.

The same state, which had abducted me, tortured me, falsely accused me and thrown me into prison, was now accusing me of being absent from my workplace. Eighteen months on, they still claim that they are processing my salary

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I have been forced to withdraw my daughter from boarding school because I could no longer afford the fees. We have been surviving on the meagre earnings of my wife. We live in want of basics like food, clean water and healthcare, among other basics. We have failed to take care of our extended family who traditionally relied on us for support

ARTUZ secretary-general Chere also narrated a similar story to the publication and said:

I was called by ZCTU. I was later dumped at Goromonzi Police Station where some charges were preferred against me. I was denied bail by Goromonzi magistrate Felistas Chakanyuka, so as a result I was detained at the notorious Goromonzi Prison for 16 days before being acquitted of all the three charges.

I then returned to my work station at Arcturus High School only to find that my salary had been ceased. Some few weeks later, I was given a Public Service charge letter with misconduct allegations emanating from the incident of my abduction

The Ministry through Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Patrick Dzumbu said it was not victimizing the 2 at all.

More: The Standard