About Us

Amalgamated Rural teachers union of Zimbabwe

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) is an organization founded in 2009, dedicated to improving the working conditions of rural teachers and advocating for the right to education in rural areas of Zimbabwe.

The Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) was officially launched in Harare on March 12, 2013. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a movement that fights for the betterment of both rural teachers’ working conditions and the livelihoods of citizens residing in rural areas. The concept for forming the rural teachers union was first proposed in 2009 when the government of Zimbabwe introduced an incentive scheme, which aimed to allocate 10% of the levy paid by pupils directly to teachers.

Mission & Vision

N

Mission

A Zimbabwe with motivated teachers and inclusive access to education and labour justice

N

Vision

To capacitate and unite teachers in advocating for inclusive access to quality education, labour justice and solidarity

History and Background

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) is an organisation founded in 2009, working for the improvement of the working conditions of rural teachers as well as the right to education in rural areas of Zimbabwe.

The Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, RTUZ was launched officially in Harare on the 12th of March 2013. The launch of the RTUZ set the tone for the fight for the improvement of both the working conditions of the rural teachers and the livelihoods of citizens living in the rural areas. The idea to form the rural teachers union was mooted in 2009 when the government of Zimbabwe introduced the incentive scheme in which teachers were to get 10% of levy paid by pupils.

The incentive scheme benefited already privileged urban teachers. The rural teachers went on to meet in Gweru in August 2009 where the teachers unanimously resolved that the rural teacher had peculiar challenges that can best be represented by an autonomous, issues based specific union to amplify the voice of the rural teacher in the pressing of their demands to the government .

The State created a rival Union with a name almost similar to RTUZ to confuse potential members and partners. In 2016 the Union amalgamated with teachers who had been recruited into the state created Union. RTUZ was subsequently renamed to Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ to cater for the incorporation of new members and to draw a distinction between the two Unions.