By Kudakwashe Vhenge
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ leadership today Monday appeared at the Harare Magistrates court facing criminal nuisance charges and had their case postponed to tomorrow.
Appearing in court are Obert Masaraure, Nation Mudzitirwa, Gerald Tavengwa, Andrew Munguri, Godfrey Chanda, human rights lawyer. Douglas Coltart and activist Simon Drury.
This is emanating from a demonstration held on 23 August 2019 dubbed pay day funeral at Finance Minister’s office in Harare.
In a statement, the vibrant teacher’s association complained that the continous dragging of the court case is heavily inconvenient to some of its members who have to travel to Harare to attend the court case.
“The case is dragging in courts. We wish it could be speeded up to give reprieve to our members. Some are travelling from far flung areas, Matabeleland and Manicaland to attend court”.
The association urged their sympathizers to attend their court sessions in order to give them moral support as they remain resolute to fight for better renumeration for civil servants.
“We call upon our members and like minded individuals to come to court in solidarity with our leaders.
We remain resolute in fighting for a living wage”.
The series of court sessions comes on the backdrop of the blasting of government by human rights organizations who have accused it of using state institutions to curb public dissent.
This follows the continuous arrest of opposition party members and human rights activists across the country over the past weeks .
Notably is the arrest of 47 people last week for allegedly participating in anti-government protests over the country’s worsening political and economic crisis.
