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Zimbabwe educators threaten strike
The Associated Press
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) _ Educators have become targets in Zimbabwe's postelection violence, a teachers union said Sunday, threatening a nationwide strike unless the government stops the attacks.
The Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission also protested political violence and called on the United Nations and African Union to supervise a planned presidential runoff.
In a statement to coincide with Sunday services, the Catholic human rights body said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission could no longer be relied on as a "neutral and nonpartisan electoral umpire" after its five-week delay in announcing final results of the March 29 national election amid witness reports of politically motivated murder, abduction and torture.
"All fair minded Zimbabweans have lost faith and confidence in ZEC which can no longer be trusted to superintend a runoff," the commission said.
Zimbabwe's opposition and international and local human rights groups have accused the ruling party, its militant allies and the army of waging a campaign of terror since President Robert Mugabe came in second in the March 29 vote. Electoral officials have said a second round of voting is necessary because neither Mugabe nor his rival Morgan Tsvangirai won a simple majority, and there are fears of increased violence in the lead-up to the runoff.
Teachers have traditionally assisted in running elections. The Progressive Teachers Union said Sunday the violent campaign against them - respected figures in local communities - was meant to instill fear and prevent them from participating as polling officers in the runoff.
"Whoever is calling himself the government should act to stop violence in schools or we will be forced to act," the union said, adding it was considering calling a nationwide strike.
The union said more than 1,700 teachers have fled violence. It said its members were under attack across the country and urged teachers to withdraw from "politically volatile zones." It also said disruptions in schools threatened examinations scheduled in June in rural schools.
The Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission also protested political violence and called on the United Nations and African Union to supervise a planned presidential runoff.
In a statement to coincide with Sunday services, the Catholic human rights body said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission could no longer be relied on as a "neutral and nonpartisan electoral umpire" after its five-week delay in announcing final results of the March 29 national election amid witness reports of politically motivated murder, abduction and torture.
"All fair minded Zimbabweans have lost faith and confidence in ZEC which can no longer be trusted to superintend a runoff," the commission said.
Zimbabwe's opposition and international and local human rights groups have accused the ruling party, its militant allies and the army of waging a campaign of terror since President Robert Mugabe came in second in the March 29 vote. Electoral officials have said a second round of voting is necessary because neither Mugabe nor his rival Morgan Tsvangirai won a simple majority, and there are fears of increased violence in the lead-up to the runoff.
Teachers have traditionally assisted in running elections. The Progressive Teachers Union said Sunday the violent campaign against them - respected figures in local communities - was meant to instill fear and prevent them from participating as polling officers in the runoff.
"Whoever is calling himself the government should act to stop violence in schools or we will be forced to act," the union said, adding it was considering calling a nationwide strike.
The union said more than 1,700 teachers have fled violence. It said its members were under attack across the country and urged teachers to withdraw from "politically volatile zones." It also said disruptions in schools threatened examinations scheduled in June in rural schools.
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Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 5/05/08 @ 3:20 AM MST
Why don't they get Jimmy Carter to observe their elections. He needs something to occupy his empty little peanut head to keep him from harming America any more than he already has. (Continued…)
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