Teachers denied legal reps

The Zimbabwean

By Edgar Gweshe

9 April 2013

Teachers being hauled before Disciplinary Committees are being denied their right to legal representation, claims the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.

The union’s Information, Education and Research Officer Fannuel Mabhugu said teachers were being victimised as a result. “According to the Public Service Regulations of 2000, it is clear that someone who has been summoned for a disciplinary hearing is free to consult a legal representative.

“One is free to go with a legal representative or trade union official to help you, but the teachers are being denied this right. Sometimes when the legal representative is allowed into the hearing, they are told that only the teacher is allowed to answer to questions from the disciplinary committee,” said Mabhugu.

Most of the personnel on the committees are political appointees with little knowledge regarding the conduct of the disciplinary hearings, he added. In a statement, the PTUZ said: “In a recent case, Wilbert Muringani, a graduate of the PTUZ Paralegal Training Project was barred access into an office where a PTUZ member Sister Catherine Munekani was appearing to answer misconduct charges before a Disciplinary Committee in Gweru, Midlands Province.

“This was despite the fact that the letter notifying her of the convening of the disciplinary hearing advised her of her right to be represented by a registered legal practitioner or a Union official. The hearing was chaired by the Provincial Education Director, Mrs. Agnes Gudo.”

The PTUZ cited another case in which the right of teachers to legal representation was violated.

“Enock Paradzayi, another PTUZ paralegal was told by Danny Moyo, the Provincial Education Director for Bulawayo Province and Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee hearing the misconduct charges preferred against PTUZ
member Kudzai Makumbe and that he could only be present but was not supposed to say anything during the hearing,” reads the statement.

The Minister of Education, Sport, Art and Culture, David Coltart was not available for comment at the time of going to press.

Minister of Education David Coltart said: “I strongly believe in the right of all people to have legal representation and also for the rule of law to apply to all. I will investigate these allegations and will do all in my power to ensure that Teachers’ rights are respected.”