Teachers' union leaders appear in court

Leaders of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) appeared in different courts on Thursday.

ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure appeared at Harare Magistrates Court 6 for routine remand and he was further remanded to the 7th of March 2019.

Masaraure is facing a criminal charge of trying to subvert a constitutionally elected government and he is out on $500 bail.

If found guilty he faces up to twenty years in prison without the option of a fine.

Meanwhile, ARTUZ Secretary General  Robson 'Nikita' Chere  also appeared at Goromonzi Magistrates courts today to answer a charge of assault. He is also out on $100 bail.

Pro-Government mouthpiece The Patriot recently labeled the union as a regime change outfit posing as a teachers association.

ARTUZ hogged the limelight in December after its members walked from Mutare to Harare and camped at Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube's office demanding that teachers be paid in United States Dollars or equivalent Bond currency.

Recently ARTUZ was joined by two other Teachers' unions ZIMTA and PTUZ in engaging in a nationwide strike.

However, on Sunday PTUZ and ZIMTA  called off the strike forcing ARTUZ  to cry foul.