Teachers slam Zanu-PF ideology plan

Teachers' unions have condemned a proposal made at the Zanu-PF National People's Conference to employ "ideologically grounded" cadres in the civil service, warning that the move would politicise government institutions and threaten professionalism.

The conference, held in Mutare and concluded on Saturday, directed the government to deploy public servants who are "aligned with the party's values" in key sectors, including education.

However, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) described the proposal as dangerous and unconstitutional, saying it undermines the neutrality of the civil service.

"Teachers are public servants, not political agents. Turning schools into ideological spaces threatens classroom neutrality, compromises curriculum integrity, and exposes learners to partisan manipulation," ARTUZ said in a statement.

"Education must be a space for inquiry, not indoctrination. Such priorities reveal a widening disconnect between the ruling elite and the realities faced by ordinary Zimbabweans."

The union said it would resist any attempts to politicise education and called on the government to uphold professionalism within the civil service.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou echoed the same sentiments, saying the ruling party was attempting to fuse State and party functions.

"There is no need to introduce ideological principles in the civil service. What matters are ideas and professional expertise from a broad spectrum of citizens," Zhou said.

"Zanu-PF leaders must respect diversity and avoid cultivating narrow-minded partisanship. The State must remain distinct from the party."

Zhou said requiring teachers and civil servants to attend the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology would only breed "partisan loyalty instead of national unity."

However, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) secretary-general Goodwill Taderera offered a different interpretation of the directive.

"I think what Zanu-PF means is that the country should have a shared national ideology, similar to the Americans or the British who speak with one voice on national issues," he said.

"It should not be about following Zanu-PF's or MDC's ideology, but about embracing a unifying national vision."

Taderera added that ideology could be harnessed to advance the government's Education 5.0 policy, which promotes innovation and industrialisation.

Still, most teachers' unions maintain that the proposal risks turning public institutions into political tools rather than service-oriented bodies.