The Zimbabwe Republic Police has deployed riot police officers at Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru, to monitor the examiners marking the Zimbabwe Schools of Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary Level scripts, after there were reports of commotion by markers, demanding increased allowances.
The riot police officers arrested two examiners according to the Teacher’s Union that were “instigating” disputes over the low payment of allowances.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTUZ) said the incident occurred after ZIMSEC had failed to deliver the promised travel and subsistence allowances of US$25 per day for those outside of residence and US$12 per day for those in residence.
However, the Union alleges that they were paid small amounts of ZW$19 000 for those outside residence and ZW$9 000 for those in residence.
“At Marymount Teachers College, A’Level Geography examiners stopped marking. The examiners didn’t receive the promised 25 percent of T and S allowances.
“ZIMSEC has failed to pay for transport, meals and accommodation but still expects teachers to mark,” ARTUZ said.
In a statement, Police spokesman Ass Comm Paul Nyathi, said police were not deployed to disperse teachers but to facilitate negotiations between ZIMSEC officials and the teachers.
“The teachers were not dispersed by the police, they had a misunderstanding with ZIMSEC officials. The police were called in to negotiate between teachers and ZIMSEC officials. So far, I have not heard of any reports of two teachers that were arrested”, Ass Comm Nyathi said.
ZIMSEC spokesperson, Nicky Dhlamini said they have sufficient markers at all centers and everyone is at work, there are no strikes.
“There are no strikes that been reported, everyone is at work. I am not aware of anyone who has stopped marking. We have sufficient markers at all centers and they are currently marking,” Dhlamini said.
Meanwhile, Human rights lawyers are representing the two arrested teachers.