On this Africa Day, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) joins the rest of the continent in reflecting on our shared history and reimagining a just and prosperous future. We celebrate the courage of our ancestors, the vibrancy of our cultures, and the resilience of our people. However, we also raise a red flag: the promise of Africa Day is being betrayed right here in Zimbabwe. This year’s Africa Day commemorations call on all African Union (AU) member states to center reparatory justice, cultural revival, intergenerational dialogue, and inclusive development. Yet, in Zimbabwe, the education sector, the most vital tool for shaping that inclusive future remains in crisis. While the AU encourages peacebuilding and transformation, Zimbabwe’s teachers are being silenced through arrests, intimidation, and starvation wages. Our learners, especially in rural areas, sit on the floor in crumbling classrooms, using outdated materials, while their teachers (many unpaid and unsupported) try to perform miracles in the face of poverty. Zimbabwe has over 2,800 schools short, a teacher deficit of over 50,000, and some schools with zero percent pass rates. How can we speak of “healing” and “sustainable development” when our children are denied the most basic tool of liberation which is education? The AU’s vision of cultural and intellectual revival is noble, but it will remain a dream unless governments like Zimbabwe’s are held accountable. We urge the African Union to demand that African governments prioritise public education, respect the rights of educators, and invest in the futures of its young people. No meaningful development or reparatory justice can be achieved if education is commodified and weaponised against the poor. African teachers matter. African learners deserve better. Our history demands that we do better — our future depends on it. We remain committed to building an Africa that reflects the dignity, freedom, and brilliance of its people. On this day, we celebrate our collective struggle, but we also recommit to the fight for justice, knowledge, and equity across this continent. Happy Africa Day to all our brothers and sisters across the continent and in the diaspora. Together, we shape the future.
ARTUZ Africa Day Statement 25 May 2025
