Teacher Fired Over “Fair Wage” Protest Selfie In Classroom

A secondary school teacher in Matabeleland North Province has been fired after posting a selfie in her classroom holding a placard that read: “We demand a fair wage. We say no more to slave wages. Sifuna imali now @ ARTUZ.”

Bridget Dhliwayo, stationed at Zibungululu Secondary School in Tsholotsho District, was discharged from service by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education following a disciplinary hearing into her participation in an online demonstration organised by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ).

In a letter dated 10 April 2026, Chief Director of Provincial Education Services for Matabeleland North, J.A. Mpofu, said Dhliwayo was found guilty of misconduct under the Public Service Regulations, 2000.

The charge related to a photograph taken on 13 May 2025 at about 1 PM inside a classroom.

The image, which Dhliwayo posted to an ARTUZ WhatsApp group, showed her holding the placard and was captioned: “Enough is enough guys. Look at the condition of the classrooms.”

The ministry said that between 13 May and 20 May 2025, Dhliwayo “did not conduct lessons as specified in the term two master timetable”.

Mpofu wrote that this was not the first time Dhliwayo had been found guilty of misconduct.

“You have proved to be unrepentant as you have continued to commit offences despite having been given several stern warnings of a stiffer penalty,” the letter said.

Under section 46 of the regulations, Dhliwayo has been discharged from service with effect from after duty on 14 May 2026.

She has 21 days to appeal to the Labour Court or request a review by the Public Service Commission, but the letter stated that neither step would suspend the penalty.

ARTUZ has been at the forefront of campaigns for better pay and working conditions for Zimbabwean teachers, often using social media to highlight school infrastructure and salary grievances.

The union’s demand for wages in US dollars has been a longstanding point of dispute with the government.

Teachers are paid in ZiG, with a small US dollar component, which unions argue is insufficient to meet living costs.