By Leonnel Mhuka
Heavily armed police disrupted a Sports Day Gala organized by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) in Gweru today at Chaplin High School. Officers reportedly arrested Mr. Mauya, who was serving as the Master of Ceremony.
Hundreds of teachers and supporters were seen leaving the venue after police took control of the event. Sources claim the operation was part of an ongoing search for ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure.
Masaraure has been under increasing scrutiny from state security agents, and ARTUZ argue that the pressure amounts to intensified and unjustified persecution.
watch video as teachers leave the venue
See full statement by ARTUZ
URGENT PRESS STATEMENT: State Disruption of ARTUZ Social Engagement Program
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) Condemns Police Action, Demands Immediate Release of Cde Emmanuel Mauya
Date: 22 November 2025
Location: Gweru
We, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), wish to inform the nation and the international community of a blatant and unwarranted disruption of our planned social engagement program today by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) anti Riot Department in Gweru.
The gathering was a private, peaceful sports day event organized for ARTUZ members under theme, “Teachers unwinding and recharging through sports.” A direct response to the mental health crisis among teachers. The purpose was purely to socialize as members, facilitate cross-pollination of ideas aligned to our profession, business development, and address mental health issues affecting our constituency. This was an exercise of our fundamental right to assembly and association for the betterment of our members, well within the purview of a legitimate trade union.
The tranquility of our event was shattered before opening remarks could even be concluded. A contingent of ZRP Riot Police arrived in a distinctive red private open truck, immediately demonstrating hostile intent.
We are profoundly perturbed by the behaviour of the state in dispersing a program whose mandate was social, professional, and entirely non-confrontational.
In the ensuing chaos, our resilient Manicaland Provincial Chairperson, Cde Emmanuel Mauya, was taken by the police. Mauya is detained at Gweru Central Police Station and lawyer Tonderai Chitere has been deployed by ZLHR to represent him. We call for his unconditional release.
Furthermore, the police proceedings clearly indicated they were actively looking for our President, Cde Obert Masaraure, with an eagle-like pursuit.
This action, taken against a peaceful and legitimate trade union activity, forces us to question whether Zimbabwe is truly safe or if it is still operating under a system of oppression designed to stifle civic and labour space.
The right to freedom of assembly and association is a fundamental human right enshrined in Section 58 and 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as well as in Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. In addition section 65 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution and ILO conventions 87 and 98 protect these basic Trade Union rights.
Globally, these standards protect the right of individuals, including trade union members, to meet and associate peacefully without fear of arbitrary state interference, especially for non-political purposes like socialization and professional development.
The violent dispersal of our gathering and the arbitrary detention of Cde Mauya, coupled with the apparent hunt for President Masaraure, stand in stark violation of these global legal and human rights standards. They demonstrate an excessive use of state power and a profound lack of respect for constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
This incident tragically indicates how the current administration, under President Mnangagwa, is apparently investing heavily in consolidating political power by achieving an agenda that includes the crushing of independent voices and legitimate civil society activities, thereby jeopardizing democratic principles.
ARTUZ demands the immediate and unconditional release of Cde Emmanuel Mauya. We call on all human rights defenders, the international labour movement, and the global community to condemn this act of state-sponsored harassment against teachers and their trade union.
Our struggle for the welfare of teachers and the defence of human rights remains resolute.
ARTUZ Information department.
