KAROI — A Public Service Commission (PSC) inspector, Phillip Madubeko, is allegedly terrorising teachers perceived to be aligned to the MDC-T, amid reports he has vowed to root out all functionaries of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party in Kariba and Hurungwe districts falling under his jurisdiction.
Madubeko last week reportedly caused the arrest of Chikangwe High School teacher and MDC-T Mashonaland West provincial organising secretary Wilson Makanyaire for allegedly threatening him with “unspecified political action”.
Makanyaire’s case was, however, quashed by prosecutors at Karoi Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday citing lack of incriminating evidence and the matter would proceed by way of summons.
This was after Madubeko allegedly pressured the school’s headmaster, Phineas Musengi, to take disciplinary action against Makanyaire, who also sits in the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Commission (Jomic) provincial liaison committee for his political involvement without clearance from the PSC and dereliction of duty, among other charges.
In a letter addressed to Makanyaire dated March 30, Musengi wrote: “Public Service regulations require that any civil servant wanting to hold political party position or take up other employment must have written authority of the Commission.
“Kindly supply me with the PSC’s letter allowing you to hold the post you have in your political party. Please note that this is not a witch hunt, but an obligation to be fulfilled by you and me.”
But, Makanyaire said he was unfairly targeted by Madubeko who was pursuing “a personal and political agenda” against him and MDC-T in a bid to force him to resign from the party.
“I don’t know of the ministerial circular barring teachers from active politics. Anyway, am I the only one participating in politics? How many teachers belong to Zanu PF and hold posts? Has Madubeko bothered to request PSC clearance letters from them?” asked Makanyaire.
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Another teacher at Chikangwe High School, Maltin Mukusha, who is MDC-T provincial youth vice-chairperson, said he was recently intimidated by Madubeko for displaying a calendar bearing Tsvangirai’s portrait in the staff room.
MDC-T Hurungwe North district information and publicity secretary Simon Mpfurutsa, a teacher at Nyamakate Primary School, was last month suspended for participating in politics without PSC clearance.
Madubeko last term also allegedly instigated the arrest of four Nyamhunga High School teachers who are said to support MDC-T on kidnapping charges after they closed the school gate while he was inside the premises under unclear circumstances, sources said.
Contacted on Monday, Madubeko said: “If it is about Makanyaire, he knows where to seek redress, that is if he is honest with himself and you. He has a case he wants to hide. Anyway, I don’t discuss Public Service issues through newspapers. I don’t have anything to do with politicians and MDC-T, full stop. I am sorry.”
MDC-T Mashonaland West chairperson Japhet Karemba condemned Madubeko’s actions, describing them as tantamount to political persecution of teachers for exercising their constitutional rights to freely participate in the politics of their country.
Zanu PF leader President Robert Mugabe has in the past labelled civil servants, particularly teachers, “enemies of the State” for supporting the MDC-T.
