Tsholotsho Teacher Challenges Dismissal at Labour Court Over Trade Union Activism

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe – A Tsholotsho teacher dismissed from the Public Service for allegedly participating in trade union activism has taken her battle to the Labour Court, raising fresh questions about workers' rights, freedom of association, and labour relations in Zimbabwe's education sector.

Bridget Dhliwayo, a former teacher at Zibungululu Secondary School in Tsholotsho District, is challenging her dismissal by the Public Service Commission (PSC), arguing that disciplinary authorities violated her constitutional rights by penalising her for lawful trade union activities and advocacy for improved teachers' salaries and working conditions. Court documents filed at the Labour Court in Bulawayo under case number LCB94/26 show that Dhliwayo is appealing against a disciplinary determination issued by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on April 10, 2026.

According to the disciplinary findings, Dhliwayo was found guilty of misconduct under the Public Service Regulations after allegedly displaying a placard inside a classroom bearing the message: "We demand a fair wage; we say no more to slave wages." Authorities further alleged that the photograph carried the caption: "Enough is enough, guys. Look at the condition of the classrooms."

The ministry also accused Dhliwayo of sharing the image in an Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) WhatsApp group and failing to conduct lessons between May 13 and May 20, 2025. In its determination, the ministry said Dhliwayo had been found guilty of misconduct previously and described her as "unrepentant" despite earlier disciplinary interventions. She was subsequently discharged from the Public Service with effect from May 14, 2026.

However, Dhliwayo disputes both the factual findings and the legal basis of the decision. In her appeal, she argues that the disciplinary authority "grossly erred and fell into error at law" by concluding that she had abandoned her teaching duties. She maintains that she continued reporting for work and conducting lessons, but some learners were absent while others allegedly refused to cooperate.

The appeal further contends that authorities unlawfully criminalised constitutionally protected trade union activities.

"The disciplinary authority erred by making a finding that the Applicant was guilty of unbecoming behavior due to her picketing while it is her constitutional right to do so," the court papers state.

Dhliwayo also challenges the ministry's reliance on the alleged social media caption, arguing that no evidence was presented to prove she authored or published it.

The case has attracted significant attention from labour rights activists and the teachers' union movement. ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure has described the dismissal as evidence of growing victimisation of educators who advocate for better salaries and improved working conditions. Speaking through a solidarity report released under the union's Operation Dhiginiti campaign, Masaraure said Dhliwayo's actions constituted legitimate trade union activity protected by both Zimbabwean law and international labour standards.

"Her offense was straightforward and entirely peaceful: she raised a placard demanding a living wage," Masaraure said.

He cited Section 65 of Zimbabwe's Constitution, which guarantees fair labour practices, reasonable remuneration, and freedom to participate in trade union activities, as well as International Labour Organization Convention 87 on Freedom of Association.

The case comes amid growing frustration among teachers who argue that salaries have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living. ARTUZ says Operation Dhiginiti was established to provide legal, financial, and social support to educators facing disciplinary action linked to labour activism. The union has also announced plans to establish cooperative income-generating projects to support teachers struggling with economic hardships. As the Labour Court prepares to hear the matter, the outcome is expected to have significant implications for labour rights, trade union freedoms, and disciplinary procedures within Zimbabwe's public service sector.

Tsholotsho teacher dismissal