Teachers being forced to pay US$50 for Zanu-PF event

Teachers across Zimbabwe are reportedly under mounting pressure to contribute at least US$50 each towards a conference organised by Teachers4ED, a Zanu-PF-aligned group that openly campaigns for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The gathering is scheduled for September 26–28 at the ruling party's headquarters in Harare.

The development comes months after similar reports surfaced of educators being compelled to pay US$35 to attend Teachers4ED workshops. In a letter dated September 17, Teachers4ED national secretary-general Faya Biggie confirmed the upcoming event, further fueling concerns among teacher unions.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader Takavafira Zhou said his office had been inundated with complaints from teachers and school heads who claimed they were being coerced into contributing. "After failing to attract enough volunteers, Teachers4ED has now adopted uncouth measures," Zhou said, adding that some district school inspectors had directed schools to sponsor at least one teacher with the US$50 fee.

Zhou argued that union participation should be voluntary, criticising ministry officials for allegedly aiding partisan activities. He accused Teachers4ED of masquerading as a professional body while advancing political interests.

Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions (Fozeu) secretary-general Obert Masaraure went further, describing the forced contributions as a "cruel and criminal contradiction." He labelled Teachers4ED "an organ of the ruling party designed to undermine genuine trade unionism" and warned that Fozeu would take legal action against school heads and inspectors found complicit.

"This action is a stark manifestation of how the ruling bourgeoisie seeks to manage the class struggle," Masaraure said. "The Teachers4ED is not a genuine workers' formation but an organ of the ruling party with an objective to bastardise trade unionism."

However, Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads secretary-general Munyaradzi Majoni said his association had not received official reports of such demands. "As school heads, we have not received any formal communication from the ministry with regards to that," he noted.

Teachers4ED representatives could not be reached for comment. The organisation is one of several Zanu-PF-linked groups mobilising support for extending President Mnangagwa's term beyond 2028.