About NASUWT
• NASUWT is the largest trade union representing
285,000 teachers and headteachers in the UK.
• The Union is led by the General Secretary Chris Keates.
• Every year the Union holds Annual Conference to
debate the issues affecting teachers’ working lives.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
NASUWT International Work
• NASUWT officially supports trade unions in four
countries: Burma, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Colombia
• NASUWT is represented on the Executive Board of
Education International, a federation of international
trade unions
• For further information go to
www.nasuwt.org.uk/International
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Zimbabwe – Key facts
• Population: 12.5 million
• Official Language: English
• Currency: Dollar, South African Rand
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has been ruled by corrupt dictator Robert Mugabe
and his party Zanu-PF, since 1980.
Due to international pressure and brave protests from
Zimbabwean citizens despite the risk of being tortured or
killed, Mugabe was forced to hold elections in 2007.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Robert Mugabe:
Corruption and Violence
•
Mugabe’s army and police tortured
and intimidated opposition parties
including the Movement for
Democratic Change (MDC) led by
Morgan Tsvangari.
•
Although the elections were not fair
and ballots were tampered with, it
was clear that the MDC had won.
•
Mugabe refused to admit defeat,
however, and the MDC were forced
to accept an uneasy power-sharing
arrangement.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Human Rights Abuses
•
Although the MDC do hold some
government positions, Zanu-PF
are still in overall control. This has
meant that human rights are still
under threat in Zimbabwe and
people face widespread beatings
and corruption from the police.
•
Trade unions particularly suffer
from police brutality because they
lead the front in standing up to
people’s human rights.
•
Zimbabweans suffer from
widespread poverty due to the
corrupt government. Whilst the
majority of the people are unable
to afford more than basic food and
housing needs, other corrupt
government officials and
businessmen live in opulent
luxury.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
•
The NASUWT has supported
Action for Southern Africa
(ACTSA) for many years to
promote human rights and to
campaign against Zimbabwe’s
brutal regime. The NASUWT
particularly supports the PTUZ,
the Progressive Teachers
Union of Zimbabwe.
•
In recent years this support has
included donations, targeted
protests, contacting politicians
in the UK to remind them that
these problems still exist in
Zimbabwe and inviting
speakers to discuss their
problems.
•
Recently the NASUWT sent a
delegation to Zimbabwe to the
annual PTUZ conference to
discuss at first hand how
support can be given.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Women’s Rights In Zimbabwe
•
Women in Zimbabwe are subject to widespread violence and discrimination
from pro-Mugabe forces.
•
Unfortunately, women’s rights groups that were developed in Zimbabwe to
protest against discrimination have been targeted by ZANU-PF supporters.
For example, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have 75,000 members,
many of whom have been targeted for repression.
•
The news organisation Reuters recently reported that eight members of the
organisation were hospitalised as a result of suspected poisoning by progovernment forces.
•
Amnesty International and global trade union organisations are working
closely together to lobby governments in both Europe and North America to
continue to pressure the Zimbabwean Government on this issue.
Activities
• You could use the information and photos in the
presentation to produce a fact file of the key issues in
Zimbabwe.
• Use the information and photos you have researched to
write a letter to your MP about the issues in Zimbabwe.
• You could use the information and photos within the
presentation and on the linked websites to produce a
campaigning leaflet or poster identifying why people
should support a campaign for human rights in
Zimbabwe.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Links
• For further information, visit:
www.actsa.org
• For further information on the NASUWT’s
campaigns visit
www.nasuwt.org.uk/Zimbabwe
• To write a letter to your MP visit
www.nasuwt.org.uk/ContactYourMP
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World