Staff Reporter

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) members are fed up with their thieving leader, Obert Masaraure whom they are accusing of swindling the Union of money that was meant to benefit teachers.

A source within ARTUZ told this publication that Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), advanced US$100 000 to ARTUZ for members to monitor the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) ongoing voter education programme. Part of the money was also meant to pay lawyers who were tasked to represent members in the event of arrest for their involvement in the opposition political party’s activities. However, Masaraure is alleged to have converted the money for his own use.

“In June this year, OSISA gave US$100 000 to ARTUZ for monitoring ZEC’s ongoing voter education programme. Masaraure did not declare the money to the Union and instead he converted the money for his own use,” said the source.

According to the source, Masaraure used part of the money to purchase an all-terrain Ford Ranger vehicle, arguing that the vehicle he had was not ideal for a man of his status.

“It’s disheartening that Masaraure only thinks of his personal welfare, while neglecting the welfare of the Union members. Teachers are suffering and living in abject poverty, but he has the audacity to spoil himself with a top of the range vehicle,” fumed the source.

The source added that Masaraure also used part of the money from OSISA to finance his campaign as he is eyeing the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Board Chairmanship, where he is battling it out with Stabile Dhewa and Samuel Mangoma, leaders of Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE), and Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) respectively.

The source added that ARTUZ members were now fed up with Masaraure and they are now lobbying for his ouster from the Union’s leadership as he was in the habit of swindling benefactors to sponsor his lavish lifestyle.

Political analyst, Clemence Muchenje said that by financing ARTUZ to get involved in the opposition politics of the country, OSISA made it clear that some NGOs and Unions in Zimbabwe were just appendages of the West as they were paid to cause regime change and destabilize the country.

Efforts to get a comment from Masaraure were fruitless as his mobile phones were not reachable.