Teachers' union seeks corporal punishment reinstatement

Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe has petitioned President Robert Mugabe to rescind the new constitutional provisions that outlawed corporal punishment, arguing that this would lead to a spike in cases of indiscipline among pupils.

In the letter, which was also copied to Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora and the ministry's secretary Sylvia Utete-Masango, Majongwe said teachers felt there was need for extensive consultations with all stakeholders before the decision to spare the rod on pupils was made.

As a union, they are receiving reports from our members in schools that cases of indiscipline are on the rise, Majongwe said. Outright removal of corporal punishment could easily worsen the situation.

Zimbabwe's new Constitution, which was adopted in 2013, bars education officers and teaching staff from administering corporal punishment on pupils.

Early this month, High Court judge Justice Ester Muremba ruled as unconstitutional the caning of a student who had been convicted of rape.

Justice Muremba ruled that Section 353 (1) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act Chapter 907 was invalid in terms of Section 167 (3) and Section 175 (1) of the new Constitution.