By Victor Fanuel
HARARE — The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has rejected a reported Zanu PF proposal to give the ruling party exclusive authority to recommend candidates for government jobs, warning it would undermine merit-based recruitment and constitutional protections.
In a statement issued on Monday, ARTUZ condemned resolutions presented by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi at Zanu PF’s 23rd National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi.
The union said the proposals threatened the separation between the ruling party and the State.
“These positions are threatening the distinction between a political party and the State,” ARTUZ said.
The union argued that political allegiance must not become a condition for public employment, warning that party-controlled recruitment could fuel favouritism, corruption and political intimidation.
It said the reported proposal would allow party officials to influence who qualifies for consideration, potentially shutting out competent applicants who lack political connections.
“For unemployed graduates, economic desperation would become an instrument of political recruitment,” the union said.
ARTUZ also warned that teachers and other public workers could face pressure to demonstrate political loyalty to secure promotions, fair deployment or continued career progression.
The union said such a system would threaten trade union rights and make it harder for workers to challenge poor salaries, staff shortages and inadequate working conditions without being accused of disloyalty.
It cited sections of the Constitution protecting political rights, equality, fair administrative conduct and the political neutrality of the Public Service.
Section 194 sets out the principles governing public administration, while section 200 addresses the conduct of public officers.
ARTUZ said recruitment and appointments must remain subject to constitutional safeguards and the relevant public-service institutions.
Zanu PF’s conference, held recently at Chinhoyi University of Technology, adopted resolutions covering party affairs and national development.
At the end of the Zanu PF conference over the weekend, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged delegates to translate the resolutions into tangible economic results.
ARTUZ called for the withdrawal of any resolution or directive that would place party authority above constitutional institutions or establish exclusive partisan control over public-service recruitment.
It also demanded assurances from the Government and the Public Service Commission that party affiliation or endorsement would not determine recruitment, promotion or deployment.
The union wants transparent hiring procedures based on objective criteria, documented decisions and accessible appeals.
It also called for protection against political coercion and retaliation.
ARTUZ urged teachers and other public workers to document and report political interference through their unions.
“No worker’s livelihood should depend on personal loyalty to a party official. No citizen should need political permission to receive a public service,” the union said.
