Tsholotsho Teacher Fired Over Classroom Protest Photo as Wage Dispute Deepens

A secondary school teacher in Tsholotsho District has been dismissed from service after posting a protest selfie taken inside her classroom, highlighting ongoing tensions between educators and the government over salaries and working conditions.

Bridget Dhliwayo, who was stationed at Zibungululu Secondary School, was discharged by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education following a disciplinary hearing. The dismissal stems from a photograph she took on 13 May 2025 during lesson time, in which she is seen holding a placard reading:

“We demand a fair wage. We say no more to slave wages. Sifuna imali now @ ARTUZ.” The image was later shared in a WhatsApp group linked to the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ).

In a letter dated 10 April 2026, Chief Director of Provincial Education Services for Matabeleland North, J.A. Mpofu, said Dhliwayo was found guilty of misconduct under the Public Service Regulations, 2000.

According to the ministry, Dhliwayo failed to conduct lessons between 13 May and 20 May 2025 in line with the school timetable, an offence that contributed to her dismissal.

“You have proved to be unrepentant as you have continued to commit offences despite having been given several stern warnings of a stiffer penalty,” Mpofu wrote in the dismissal letter.

Under Section 46 of the regulations, Dhliwayo was discharged from service with effect from 14 May 2026. She has 21 days to appeal to the Labour Court or seek a review by the Public Service Commission, although the ruling remains in force pending any outcome.

The case has drawn attention to the ongoing dispute between the government and teachers’ unions over remuneration. ARTUZ has been at the forefront of campaigns demanding better wages, often using social media platforms to spotlight poor school infrastructure and salary concerns.

The union has consistently called for salaries to be paid in United States dollars, arguing that the current structure, where teachers receive wages in ZiG with a small USD component, falls short of meeting the rising cost of living. Education analysts say the case reflects broader tensions within Zimbabwe’s public education sector.

“Teachers are increasingly turning to digital platforms to voice grievances, but this also raises questions about professional conduct and workplace rules,” said a Harare-based education policy expert. “There needs to be a balance between labour rights and maintaining classroom standards.”

Labour experts note that disciplinary action for workplace protests is not uncommon under public service regulations, particularly where it is deemed to disrupt normal duties such as teaching.

At the same time, unions argue that punitive measures risk silencing legitimate concerns about wages and working conditions in the sector. The incident comes amid growing pressure on the government to review teacher salaries, as educators continue to cite economic challenges and declining real incomes. As the dispute unfolds, Dhliwayo’s case is likely to become a focal point in debates over labour rights, freedom of expression, and professional conduct within Zimbabwe’s education system.

Tsholotsho teacher fired