A Government for the people or for a political party?

"The tragedy of our lives lies in our differences"

Response to following article:

RTUZ March Update- Day One

15 August 2016

RTUZ today embarked on its 200km walk from Mutawatawa in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) to Harare as part of advocacy for the betterment of rural education.

The demand for the day was that all forms of violence against teachers in rural areas be stopped to allow them to deliver their work in safe schools.
The march commenced at 1600hrs after delays at the UMP district education offices where a petition was being handed over.

RTUZ leaders who submitted the petition where interrogated by various security agents operating in the area. One of the agents went so far as to give threats that they would not tolerate 'penetration of ZANU PF territories by the opposition.'

The overzealous agent went on and asked the  RTUZ leaders to 'to pack and leave the area or they would be heroes in the grave yard.'
However the march continued peacefully without incident and the union leadership was joined by dozens of villagers.

The walk went on until 2100hrs and a total of 15 km had been covered by end of Day One.

At around 0200hrs on the morning of 16 August 2016, some food stuffs and water containers were stolen by a group of youths who passed by Nyagande School turn off where camp had been set.

The rest of the night proceeded without incident and the march will resume today (16 August 2016).

The demand for the day is a 100% salary based rural allowance so as to compensate for the hardships of working in rural areas.
More villlagers and parents are expected to join the walk along the way and RTUZ leaders will also take the opportunity to tour schools and assess infrastructure and other challenges.

The march will cover 20km for the day.
RTUZ Information department. 

 ________________________________________________________________________________

Comment

Not until all Zimbabweans, and I mean every Zimbabwean, be it ordinary citizens, the police, the army, CIDs, CIOs, church leaders, civic leader, civil servants, everybody; have grasped the true concepts of governance will we ever consider ourselves to be free. 

There is a very disturbing misconception pervading the entire nation that shows many people do not understand what is government. And such ignorance has been left to take hold by those who know better because it enhances their positions. 

People should be enlightened on issues that separate state apparatus from a political party. Zimbabweans must be knowledgeable enough to know and understand such divisions. That the state serves everybody regardless of who they are while a political party is like a club that serves the interests of its members. 

The fact that if one is a police officer or a clark at some government department who favours a particular political party therefore he should only attend to those who belong to that party, is downright ignorance of the workings of government. But unfortunately this is what is happening in Zimbabwe.  

Disgruntled rural teachers of Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe have decided to show their anger at the manner the government is neglecting their plight by marching 200kilometres to Harare to present their petition to the Ministry of Education. And twenty kilometres into their epic  journey they've stopped by the Rural District offices of education to present their other petition enroute where they have met threats from some government security officer who said, quote: "They would not tolerate PENETRATION OF ZANU-PF TERRITORIES BY THE OPPOSITION!"

A security who is on government service blatantly taking sides. This is the kind of ignorance that must be eradicated. People must understand that those who are on government service are there to serve everybody. People are sacrificing to walk 200kms to try and show the pain and suffering they are enduring under very deplorable conditions in their rural areas but another human being cannot see that! How cold and cruel can one get! You can see this suffering?!

Lameck Mahachi is a founding member of Freedom Justice Coalition Zimbabwe Party and a life time member of the Elders Council passionate about issues of freedom and justice for all.