Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ member Gerald Tawengwa, a teacher at Mupfungautsi Secondary school in Gokwe, Midlands was forcibly evicted from the school premises his place of abode since 14 November 2019.
This has forced him to separate from his heavily pregnant wife who has sought refuge in distant Rusape while he reside crammed with a distant relative at Gokwe Centre.
According to Tawengwa, the headmaster, Mr Enock Madhaka called for a meeting at the school on the 14th of November this year with an agenda, as he later learnt, to address indiscipline of pupils at the institute.
“I don’t know how my name was mentioned but I was called four hours later and I was accused of not attending lessons since last term a fact I denied as I have been attending. They said I should go back to work and I told them I was on strike and they started insulting me. Then the parents ordered me to immediately vacate the place and I denied and they said I should be out by 17 November and I denied again then they agreed that I was supposed to move out by 19th November. The head was there but said nothing in fact he was smiling showing it was a planned thing. They said they were going to check if I was still in the teacher’s cottage by 19 November then they would deal with me. I stay with my wife who is heavily pregnant.
“I wanted to protect my family so on the agreed date of 19 November we moved out, but we are living as destitute. I recently sent my wife to Rusape where my parents live but it’s still difficult. I left everything at my school and I don’t know if everything is still ok. I have been living at my school since the 14th of November 2019 and have been living there ever since. My sister life is difficult out here but I will continue to demand a living wage no matter the hardships I am facing now.”
Tawengwa was informed that his headmaster has started the process of ceasing his salary and he doubts if he will receive his December salary. The rural teacher made a complaint to The District School Inspector of his area and the ZRP police but nothing was done.
Source: Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ)
