Threats to teachers in Mufakose, end of term Thursday 6 April
Suspected war veterans and Zanu PF supporters disrupted an end of term meeting in Mhuriimwe Secondary School in Mufakose, Harare. About 15 of them are said to have come to the school in a tractor at about 8:15 am and "stormed into" the staff room. They accused the teachers of having received MDC T-shirts and warning the teachers that supporting MDC was "a waste of time".

Eight people, some wearing Zanu PF T-shirts, arrived during assembly at Mufakose High School Number 1 and "told pupils that they were too young to have experienced war during the liberation struggle and if they did not want to do so they should urge their parents to vote Zanu (PF).

Attacks upon teacher and rape of female teacher
The wife of a teacher at Chitimbe Primary School in Mutawatawa was allegedly raped when a gang of suspected Zanu (PF) youths attacked her husband at the school as political violence against teachers intensifies in Mashonaland East province. Police said the case was reported to Mutawatawa police station. The gang of Zanu (PF) youths raided the family accusing the teacher of supporting the MDC. The gang raped the woman during the attack. The teacher immediately sought a transfer and took his family to Masvingo.

Several teachers in Mashonaland East have sought transfers because of the political violence.

Munamba Primary School. Staff fled the school on Tuesday following threats from the youths.

• Goromonzi. Teachers fled from Mapfeni primary school after a group of Zanu (PF) youths descended on the school. Parents at the school said they were shocked when the youths arrived in a lorry. One parent said: "These youths were armed with all sorts of weapons. It was sad to see teachers running into the bush in the presence of their pupils." He said one lady teacher failed to escape and was severely beaten.

Missing teachers
At least 15 people, among them teachers are reported missing from their homes and several others were injured in escalating violent political clashes in Mwenezi. The police at Mwenezi confirmed that violence had caused the closure of Mangwerume, Mwanezana, Shayabvudzi, Makwire, Mabhare and Mahsava Schools.

Rooting out teachers at Primary School
On Tuesday 9 May at Mapfeni Primary School, about 20 miles east of the capital, Harare, a truck arrived full of young men in the ruling ZANU (PF) party T-shirts, armed with sticks and axes. Their mission: find and beat teachers supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Without need of explanation, the children began running and screaming. The teachers, then clustered in a staff meeting to discuss growing insecurity, saw the disturbance and fled, according to Jonathan, one of the teachers. He is who now is in hiding along with some 45 other people who sought refuge at an MDC organizer's home east of Harare. "We heard they had a list of teachers supporting MDC. I am afraid. I cannot go back there," he says.

Teachers, widely respected in rural Zimbabwe, have become the latest target in an increasingly violent, methodical campaign by Zimbabwe's ruling party to intimidate anyone opposing the 20-year reign of President Robert Mugabe.

Victimisation of Teachers
A primary schoolteacher in Masami, Murehwa waved at his friends, and was then approached by Zanu (PF) youths who "acccused me of chanting an MDC slogan and threatened to physically beat me up before taking away my car keys and driving off with the car... These youths have a long-standing grudge against me, dating to the time I refused to ferry them to a political rally." Musami police have not responded, said to be still investigating. "Top Zanu PF officials have, of late, accused schoolteachers of campaigning for the MDC in the rural areas."

Attacks on teachers at Mwenezi
Mwenezi District’s Deputy Officer-in-Charge, Inspector Shadreck Basera, said the situation here is chaotic and violent clashes are continuing. Some teachers have fled and we are not sure whether they will come back as they have become targets of the clashes," said Basera. The affected schools include Mushava and Neshuro.

Yesterday The National Union for the Public Sector of Zimbabwe and the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe condemned attacks on civil servants by suspected Zanu (PF) supporters in recent weeks. The public sector union said civil servants were increasingly becoming victims of political violence. The union also noted that the government has in some cases made politically related transfers of police officers and teachers. Some senior police officers in Kwekwe were transferred for allegedly supporting the MDC. Teachers have either been transferred or have fled their schools due to violence allegedly perpetrated by suspected Zanu (PF) supporters. Civil servants, particularly in rural areas, have generally been regarded as sources of political influence on their communities. "Currently, civil servants are working under threat," the union said. "We cannot let such violence continue in our workplaces. Since the law cannot protect us, we can only protect ourselves by boycotting the workplace until the situation has improved. "No party must claim monopoly support from civil servants. It is everyone's right, and civil servants are free to join and vote for any party of their choice." The teachers' union said the government had publicly attacked teachers, triggering violence against them. Msika accused teachers of backing the MDC, saying they will not be used as polling officers in the elections. "This has directly led to violence against teachers in the form of physical attacks in schools, rape, destruction of teachers' property and closure of schools," the union said. Two weeks ago the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association deplored violence against teachers. The condemnation came after teachers in Mashonaland Central and East provinces were severely assaulted, while in Mashonaland East female teachers and teachers' wives were allegedly raped by Zanu (PF) supporters and war veterans.

Zimta statement
A Zimbabwe Teachers Association official said they were busy compiling an inventory of cases of violence against their members. "As an association we are worried and astonished to find our members becoming victims of political violence. Why have we become targets after 20 years of peace, we wonder? It is something serious which the ministries of education must look into with urgency," he said. He said at least 20 cases had been reported to them but the association was still verifying with regional and district officers. "There shall come a time when people say enough is enough about this violence and erupt. We cannot let the democratic rights of our members be violated while we are watching. The perpetrators of this violence must be brought to book," he said.