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Success for teachers
BY THUSO KHUMALO JOHANNESBURG -

Zimbabwean teachers in SA have scored their greatest victory of the century after their union, The Progressive Teachers of Zimbabwe in South Africa (PTZ-SA), successfully lobbied to have them registered with the South African Council of Educators (SACE), regardless of their citizenship status. For any teacher to teach in South African schools, they must be registered with SACE - hence thousands of well-qualified Zimbabwean teachers had failed to do so because the majority are yet to be granted legal status in SA.

PTZ-SA Secretary General Bongani Nyathi told CAJ News that his organisation held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of SACE, Muavia Gallie, who gave an assurance that Zimbabwean teachers will now be registered with the council using documents such as their Zimbabwean Identity Documents, Passports and Asylum Permits. “This is great victory for Zimbabwean teachers who had failed to get recognition both in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The main stumbling block for Zimbabwean teachers to work in public schools was the SACE certificate. Overqualified teachers who had been underpaid in private schools and some already working as security guards and domestic workers because of frustrations concerning SACE registration, have now had their dignity restored,” Nyathi said. Under this arrangements, teachers will first need to send certified copies of both academic and professional certificates to either the South African Ministry of Education or the South African Qualifications Authority for evaluation.

The evaluation certificate will then enable them to get registered with SACE a process that will see them able to teach in both private and public schools. – CAJ News

Mudhala Wethu Gala in Goli

BY ZAKEUS CHIBAYAJOHANNESBURG - Mthwakazi Forum, a network of Zimbabweans based in South Africa, is going to hold a public gala for the late Vice President and founder of the Zimbabwe Africa People’s Union, Joshua Nkomo on July 1 at Holy Trinity Church in Braamfontein, to celebrate the illustrious life of ‘Father Zimbabwe’.

Organisers dismissed the annual Nkomo gala, organised by Zanu (PF) in Bulawayo as ‘propaganda’, as the government usually provided a one-sided story about Joshua Nkomo and his participation in ZAPU was omitted or twisted.

“We are holding this gala at a time when Zimbabwe is facing a lot of problems emanating from lack of leadership both in government and in the opposition,” said Mlamuli Mhlaba Nkomo, Director of Mthwakazi Forum.

“By holding this gala we wish to resurrect the revolutionary spirit of unselfishness in pursuit of national and democratic ideals. Nkomo was judged by tribal lenses that resulted in undeserving candidates like Robert Mugabe whose membership to the majority ethnic group proved to be his main political weapon.

The Forum urged the South African government to revise its relations with the Mugabe regime as they reflected the life of ‘Chibwe chitedza’. “Nkomo was an African leader not only a Zimbabwean leader. He formed alliances with the ANC and its military wing Umkhonto WeSizwe (MK). It is on the basis of this relationship that we call upon the South African government to rethink its alliance with Mugabe which has brought more misery to Zimbabweans,” said

During early 1980s, Nkomo clashed with Mugabe and was expelled with his party ZAPU from the government. After the sacking, Mugabe unleashed Gukurahundi in Matebeleland and parts of Midlands in a bid to crush Nkomo. Thousands of people died in the civil war, led by Mugabe’s notorious Fifth Bridgade. Nkomo had to flee the country to seek refugee.In order to stop the massacre of his people he agreed that his party be assimilated into Zanu (PF) in what is known as the Unity Agreement in 1987.