Zimbabwe News Update
newshawks
3 min read
Progressive teachers union of zimbabwe (ptuz) president takavafira zhou has released a damning statement castigating abuse of headmasters in mberengwa by politically exposed persons led by mp tinashe “goga” shumba. Lately, political interference in the running of schools has ruined the majority of schools in mberengwa while infrastructure has grossly deteriorated over the years. Zhou said under these circumstances it is sad that instead of building a credible system of education and mps clamouring for better pay for teachers and equalisation funds for schools with atrocious infrastructure, mberengwa central mp shumba has prioritized capturing school heads for political expediency.
Zhou’s aim at shumba follows a circular he sent to headmasters that read: ” all heads of schools are invited to attend a meeting on 1 nov 2025 at the new hall at goga complex.” the ptuz leader the meeting with school heads had no spelt agenda except “a plate of sadza, and a drink and of course a practical political agenda.” ” have school heads sunk so low that an mp must invite them to spend money from school coffers in order to eat sadza and get a drink? “it is noteworthy that the invitation has no locus standi and is not in line with the roles of an mp. For the avoidance of doubt the duties of a member of parliament (mp) include acting as a legislator, representing their constituents, scrutinizing the government, and overseeing public funds.
” they debate and pass laws, address constituent concerns, monitor government spending, and provide oversight of the executive branch through various parliamentary mechanisms,” said zhou adding: “in what manner is hon tinashe goga shumba’s meeting in line with his parliamentary roles? If it does not have any link except political expediency, it is tantamount to abuse of school heads and public office. “the meeting must be closely understood within the succeeding meeting in mberengwa explained in the following communique quoted verbatim from hon tinashe goga shumba’s close associates, viz, “gud evening cdes. May i draw your attention to the subject matter belowwe are organizing our trs4ed capacitation workshop tentatively to be held from 20-23 november here in mberengwa.
May you mobilise more members including sdcs and those waiting for deployment. Registration fees is 25us. “you will be zhou said it is therefore clear that shumba’s meeting was a prelude to a succeeding workshop that is meant to coerce headmasters to abuse school coffers by paying for teachers that will attend trs4ed workshop. “when an mp sinks so low as to arm twist school heads to fleece schools and pay money for an independent gathering that has nothing to do with improvement of pass rate at schools in mberengwa, then it is clear that representation has run stark made. “we can’t use a plate of sadza and drink to fleece schools of the resources needed to improve quality public education.
How a poorly paid teacher can be empowered by attending a workshop that fleeces him/her remains baffling and outstripping common sense,” said zhou.
