We’ve never met Socilist Party, says teachers union
By Tony Nkhoma
THE Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) says it has never met or held any meeting with any political party as President Hakainde Hichilema has claimed.
And the United Party for National Development (UPND)’s media team has taken to its UPND Zambia Facebook page calling for the de-registration of BETUZ.
BETUZ general secretary Henry Sinkala said it was not true that the union’s leadership had help a meeting with the opposition Socialist Party (SP) as Hichilema insinuated recently.
Sinkala said his union was and remained a non-partisan, professional and member-driven organisation.
“In response to the recent report referenced by the President suggesting that BETUZ may have held a meeting with a named political Party, we wish to make a respectful clarification: BETUZ has never met or held any meeting with any political party,” he said.
Sinkala was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
He said any persons who might have met any political party had no blessings from the union’s leadership.
“If there is anyone who has met with any opposition political party in the name of BETUZ, we categorically state that such a person has no blessing from the union leadership,” Sinkala said.
He said BETUZ had followed with keen interest the recent remarks made by Hichilema in which his union was mentioned
“Today, we speak not only to clarify, but also to appreciate, to reassure, and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the principles that have guided us since our inception,” Sinkala said.
He said BETUZ remained committed to it mission of safeguarding the welfare of teachers and collaborating with the government of the day in building a fair and effective education system.
“We are fully compliant with the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, and we hold transparency and accountability in the highest regard,” Sinkala said.
He said BETUZ was fully aware of aware of a malicious attempt to impersonate it through the creation and operation of a fake Facebook page.
Sinkala said the fake Facebook page had been used to disseminate false and politically charged statements, including a fabricated claim that BETUZ had endorsed a political party.
During the official opening of the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) quadrennial conference on July 18, 2025, in Livingstone Hichilema said he had heard about the meeting between BETUZ and the opposition Socialist Party.
“Today you meet whoever you want. I hear BETUZ had a meeting with the Socialist Party. That’s okay. That’s okay. But still look at the vision of the leaders and what they wish to do for the country and for you as the workers. Look at their visions,” Hichilema said.
The UPND’s media team has since mounted a vicious smear campaign against the union using its increasingly rogue UPND Zambia Facebook page calling for the de-registration of BETUZ.
“BETUZ must be deregistered; you cannot have a union having meetings with opposition political parties or even ruling party. They are registered to represent the interests of workers and that’s why the workers contribute money, not politicians,” read a post on the page.
The UPND media team ordered all civil servants (teachers) to demand the resignation of the BETUZ leaders or to stop contributing money to the union through salary deductions.
