By Staff Reporter
HARARE — The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has launched the first phase of its nationwide “Operation Dhigniti” campaign with union president Obert Masaraure meeting teachers who were dismissed, suspended or victimised for participating in what the union described as legitimate trade union activities.
The meetings, held this week, mark the operational beginning of a campaign ARTUZ says is aimed at restoring both the dignity of educators and the integrity of Zimbabwe’s collapsing education sector amid worsening economic conditions and alleged state persecution of union activists.
ARTUZ said the initiative would initially focus on welfare support and legal intervention for teachers facing disciplinary action linked to labour activism, protests and union participation.
“Protecting the dignity of teachers facing state persecution is the foundational first step toward reviving the integrity of education in Zimbabwe,” the union said in a statement announcing the launch of the operation.
The development comes days after ARTUZ unveiled findings from its Teachers’ Basket of Needs Survey, which painted a bleak picture of deepening poverty among educators, with most surviving on salaries between US$200 and US$350 per month despite a Total Consumption Poverty Line estimated at US$1,260.
The union has since intensified pressure on government, demanding a minimum salary of at least US$1,200 and threatening militant labour action under the “Operation Dhigniti” banner, including a controversial two-day work week protest strategy.
As part of the campaign rollout, Masaraure met the family of teacher and union activist Ronald Hondongwa, whom ARTUZ says has become emblematic of the growing crackdown against educators linked to labour activism.
Hondongwa was among 78 activists arrested alongside opposition politician Jameson Timba on June 16, 2024 during commemorations of the Day of the African Child.
According to ARTUZ, Hondongwa spent nearly six months in pre-trial detention before returning to his post at Zengeza 4 High School, only to be prevented from resuming duties by school authorities allegedly acting on instructions “from above.”
The union said sustained legal pressure eventually secured his return to the classroom in August 2025, but authorities later charged him with absenteeism, citing the period he spent incarcerated and the time he was allegedly barred from working by the school administration.
ARTUZ said Hondongwa has now lost his employment despite what the union described as a distinguished record as a computer teacher who excelled professionally while living with a disability.
“Today, this dedicated computer teacher finds himself stripped of his employment simply for commemorating the Day of the African Child,” ARTUZ said.
The union said it had mobilised assistance from partners and allies to provide welfare support to affected teachers while its legal team continues pursuing reinstatement cases.
The launch of Operation Dhigniti comes against the backdrop of growing distress within Zimbabwe’s education sector.
A recent nationwide survey commissioned by ARTUZ and conducted by the Institute for Public Affairs in Zimbabwe (IPAZ) found that nearly 80 percent of teachers are trapped in debt, while the majority struggle to afford food, transport, healthcare and accommodation.
The study further revealed that many teachers have turned to side jobs including farming, extra lessons, poultry production, welding, artisanal mining and informal trading to survive.
Masaraure previously described the situation as a “systemic attack” on teachers’ livelihoods, accusing government of presiding over “state-supported poverty.”
Under the broader Operation Dhigniti campaign, ARTUZ says it intends to escalate pressure for improved salaries and working conditions while simultaneously defending teachers facing dismissal or disciplinary action linked to union activities.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” the union said.
