Abducted ARTUZ leaders dumped at police station

Four Amalgamated Rural Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) leaders were on Saturday allegedly abducted in Harare by unidentified individuals suspected to be State security agents and later dumped at Harare Central Police Station seven hours later.

ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure confirmed the development. "ARTUZ condemns the barbaric abduction of our secretary-general Robson Chere and Mashonaland West chairperson Munyaradzi Ndawana and two others. The abductions signify the worsening political crisis in Zimbabwe. The incumbent government is displaying paranoid authoritarianism," he said.

"The government should focus on addressing bread and butter issues and desist from this shameful culture of persecuting innocent citizens.

"We are shocked that seven hours after being abducted and later handed over to the police the four are still to be charged.

"ARTUZ urges citizens to unite and rescue our country before we sink into the abyss."

The ARTUZ leaders were rounded up in Greystone Park where they were having a workshop on facilitation techniques for adult education.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not immediately available for comment last night.