Stop ‘eating’ our teachers, union urges wizards
By Tony Nkhoma
AFTER failing to physically propose love to the beautiful female teachers government has posted to Luano District in Central Province, some lusty local men have resorted to witchcraft to satisfy their sexual appetite, a teachers union has said.
The Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) is unhappy that
not only are the female teachers being sexually attacked while sleeping, but the wizards are also reported to be smearing faecal matter on their door steps.
PROTUZ director of public relations and international affairs Brian Mwila said yesterday the union was sad at the many complaints of sexual abuse and witchcraft attacks against teachers serving in Luano District.
“We are deeply troubled that some individuals in the area where teachers have been sent to serve have instrumentalised witchcraft against teachers to satisfy their sexual desires. The reports of female teachers being sexually abused while sleeping and the smearing of faecal matter on their door steps are not only traumatising but uncivilised and counterproductive,” Mwila said in a statement.
He said the practices had resulted in increased fear among the new female teachers in the district and that the trend has a lasting negative effect on the delivery of quality education in the area.
Mwila commended traditional leaders and government line institutions for their efforts in addressing the plight of the traumatised teachers.
He urged government to do more in creating a safe and enabling environment for the teachers serving in rural areas such as Luano District.
Mwila invited other stakeholders to stand firm in solidarity with the union and the local authority in the defence and protection of human dignity especially that of teachers.
“The union strongly believes that the government has the power to stop such non-developmental and inhumane vices against public service workers or any other individual by members of the local community for the sake of development. We must at all costs reject and condemn such ancient and ungodly acts, especially that ours is a Christian nation,” Mwila said.
Mwila appealed to government to speed up the construction of decent teachers’ houses using the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and connecting them to the national grid for them to enjoy access to electricity.
