“The language of the police batons”

50% of asked teachers victim of political violence. Four out of five teachers received treats and have been forced to attend political meetings. Over thousand student arrests over four-year period.Download report (4MB PDF)

Elections in Zimbabwe are getting closer, and the teachers and students are preparing for the violence that have affected the so many times before. This report will present the results of the monitoring of human rights abuses in the education sector done by PTUZ (The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe) and SST (Student Solidarity Trust).

Some of these findings are:

In the period 2006 – 2010, SST reports that there were

187 students expelled1 021 students arrested211 cases of torture/abduction of students

The PTUZ’ 2011 survey among 1000 teachers report that:

51 % of teachers had experienced political violence77 % had received threats79 % were forced to attend political meetings71 % of the attacks were carried out by War veterans, ZANU-PF supporters and youth militiaThe number of attacks peaked during elections, and especially in the 2008-election Rape and indecent assault towards women is becoming a political tool in Zimbabwe

Download report (4MB PDF)For printed copies contact saih@saih.no