The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has expressed support for university lecturers across the country ahead of a planned protest at Liberation Square, demanding improved wages, better working conditions, and respect for academic freedoms.
In a statement, ARTUZ declared its “full and unwavering solidarity” with the picketing lecturers, describing the protest as a “legitimate and courageous response to years of state neglect, repression, and the continued erosion of academic dignity”.
The union, which represents educators in Zimbabwe’s primary and secondary school sectors, said it shares the frustrations of its counterparts in higher education, citing chronic underpayment, excessive workloads, and a general lack of respect for the teaching profession as common grievances. The statement reads:
That university educators must take to the streets to demand what is rightfully theirs, a living wage, improved working conditions, and respect for academic freedom is a damning indictment of a government that has consistently prioritised elite privilege and corruption over education and development.
ARTUZ commended the lecturers for organising the picket in a lawful and peaceful manner, highlighting that the right to protest is enshrined in Zimbabwe’s Constitution under Section 59.
The union reiterated its vision of a country where educators at every level, from early childhood development to university, are valued, well-compensated, and able to teach free from fear or coercion.
ARTUZ urged citizens, student organisations, civil society groups, and other trade unions to stand in solidarity with the lecturers. The union said:
To all citizens who believe in the right to education and labour justice, this is your fight too. We call on all our members, allies in civil society, student bodies, and fellow workers to rally behind this cause. The future of education is a shared struggle.
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