EI Africa demands release of arrested Tanzanian teachers’ union leaders

EI Africa has called for the immediate and unconditional release of, Japhet Maganga, the General Secretary of the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU),  and nine other union leaders, who were arrested by the Tanzanian police during a legitimate union National Council meeting held on Friday, February 16, 2024. It has been reported that Japhet and his colleagues have suffered torture while in detention, and as of today, no charges have been filed against them.
 
This incident is the latest in a series of actions by the Tanzanian authorities, who have been interfering in the internal affairs of the TTU for the past couple of years. The situation took a drastic turn recently when the government denied Japhet Maganga a letter of secondment, effectively preventing him from working full-time for the union. Subsequently, he was ordered to return to his teaching position, and it is understood that he has since been dismissed from his job. The government used this pretext as a justification to remove him from his position as the General Secretary of the union.
 
Education International (EI), has taken immediate action to address this grave violation of trade union rights. On the same day as the arrests, EI wrote a protest letter to the Tanzanian President, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, demanding her intervention for the immediate release of the detained union leaders. EI Member organizations  are expressing their outrage over the arrests and are calling on Tanzanian authorities  to release the union leaders and stop this regressive act against teachers and teacher unions.
 
Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, the Regional Director of EI Africa, has issued a fervent call to all member organizations to rally behind the cause and add their voices to the demand for the release of Japhet Maganga and the other union leaders. "We urge the authorities of the Republic of Tanzania to immediately and unconditionally release Japhet Maganga and all the other union leaders, to cease interfering in the internal affairs of the union, and to uphold trade union rights, including freedom of association," Dr. Sinyolo emphasized.
 
Sinyolo went on to stress, “Political leaders or government institutions should not influence or determine who should be elected or retained as TTU General Secretary or leader, as this amounts to interference in the internal affairs of the union and clearly violates international labour standards” . 
 
The arrest and torture of the TTU leaders not only violate fundamental human rights but also undermine the crucial role played by teacher unions in safeguarding the interests of educators and promoting quality education. The international community is watching closely, and pressure is mounting on the Tanzanian government to rectify this situation and respect the rights of trade unions.
 
As the detained union leaders await justice, it is imperative that concerned individuals and organizations continue to raise their voices, urging the Tanzanian authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally. The world stands in solidarity with Japhet Maganga, the TTU leaders, and all teachers whose rights are being violated in Tanzania.

[Mon, 19 Feb 2024 16:56:00 +0000] | DIGG THIS


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