High Court of Tanzania

The High Court’s Labour Division has said it will rule on the case pitting the government against the Tanzania Teachers Union tomorrow.

High Court, Judge Sophia Wambura who was hearing the submissions of the two sides, after the government filed a case to stop the strike, told reporters yesterday after more than six hours of hearing, that she will give the ruling tomorrow.

The government was represented by Principal State Attorney Obadia Kameya while teachers were represented by their lawyer Gabriel Mnyele.

Meanwhile on the second day of the strike, a survey has shown that while some teachers have not reported to school at all, others have were at the school permises, but were not teaching.

More pupils and students marched to government offices and police stations yesterday to seek for their rights to be taught.

There were reports of arrests and harassments of teachers and leaders of their union by security organs in various parts of the country.

Some have been arrested for persuading others to support the strike.

A survey by The Guardian has revealed that a big number of teachers were supporting the strike while some government officials at the regional and districts levels are trying to break it.

In Dar es Salaam pupils and students claimed that they have not seen teachers in their classes since morning.

“They are not teaching. They just report and stay in groups outside,” pupils at Mapambano primary school in Kinondoni district claimed. Reports from Kilimanjaro region said police has promised to protect all teachers who are willing to resume work. The regional police commander, Robert Boaz said the force will deal with those breaking the law including the use of schoolchildren to march in demand for their rights.

Reports from Mbeya said four TTU leaders were arrested by police for mobilising other teachers to continue with the strike.

The Mbeya regional police commander, Athuman Diwani told reporters that the suspects were encouraging teachers to take part in their strike. In Ruvuma, Songea district, the regional commissioner, Said Mwambungu warned primary, secondary and college teachers against striking.

TTU in Mwanza region blamed police for arresting teachers taking part in the strike. The TTU secretary for Mwanza region Issac Chaushi told this paper that he received reports of teachers being harassed and apprehended by police in various schools and districts.

Reports from Kagera said there was a good turnup of teachers in some of the schools who were seen teaching. The Bukoba district education officer, Gregory Fabian told this paper that he found many teachers back in classes after a visit he paid to their schools.

TTU president Gratian Mukoba said yesterday that the strike will continue until the government listened to their claims.