In a move that has damped the spirits in the education sector and ignited widespread condemnation, prominent unionist and human rights campaigner Obert Masaraure has been summarily dismissed from his teaching post at Chemhanza High School, a Methodist Church-run school in Hwedza.
The dismissal, which came in a letter dated 30 March 2024, was delivered to Masaraure, the president of the Amalgamated Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), on Tuesday. The letter, which cited his absence from duty for over 30 days as the reason for termination, has been met with outrage by Masaraure and his supporters, who claim the dismissal is a politically motivated attempt to silence his outspoken activism.
“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 the right to be heard they acted on falsehoods,” Masaraure said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I have served government since May 2014 and they chose to just terminate my contract.”
Masaraure’s dismissal comes amidst a backdrop of ongoing struggles for better working conditions for Zimbabwe’s educators. Under the ARTUZ banner, he has spearheaded numerous protests, demanding improved wages and working conditions for teachers, often facing harsh reprisals from the government.
“It’s so heart wrenching that we have a serious shortage of STEM teachers. Some of us are willing to serve under the difficult working conditions. The ruling elites choose to invest anything and everything to block us from teaching. They are punishing learners not me. We won’t allow it,” he said, highlighting the irony of his dismissal at a time when the country is facing a severe teacher shortage.
Beyond his role as a union leader, Masaraure has emerged as a fearless advocate for human rights in Zimbabwe, consistently challenging the Zanu-PF government on issues of political repression and social injustice. His activism has often come at a personal cost, with arrests, torture, and intimidation becoming a recurring theme in his life.
“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!” said opposition politician Gift Ostallos Siziba, echoing the sentiment of many who believe Masaraure’s dismissal is a direct attack on his activism.
Pashor Raphael Sibanda, another opposition politician and former MP, described Masaraure’s dismissal as a “grave injustice,” adding, “our nation cannot afford to lose teachers due to politically motivated actions.”
The dismissal letter, dated May 3, 2024, from Mashonaland East Provincial Education Director, Mrs Anatoria Ncube, states that Masaraure’s employment was terminated due to his absence from duty for more than 30 days.
“It has been noted that your salary was ceased after you failed to report for duty,” the letter reads. “You did not, thereafter, come forward to claim your salary or avail yourself to your head of office to advise why you had failed to report for duty. You have still not reported for work to date. You were, thus, absent from duty for a continuous period in excess of 30 days without having been granted leave of absence.”
However, Masaraure maintains that his absence was due to his commitment to his union work and his ongoing activism, which often placed him in direct conflict with the government. He claims that his dismissal is a direct consequence of his outspoken criticism of the government’s policies and his relentless fight for the rights of teachers and other Zimbabweans.
The dismissal of Obert Masaraure has sent a chilling message to other teachers and activists in Zimbabwe. It amplifies the risks associated with speaking out against the government and the lengths to which the authorities are willing to go to silence dissent.
