An official from the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Godfrey Chanda was reportedly taken by CID officers to Gweru Central Police Station for questioning.
According to ARTUZ, Chanda was detained for two hours and released without being charged. In several social media statements, ARTUZ said:
Police in Gweru has arrested ARTUZ leader Cde Godfrey Chanda. Mr Chanda was picked in town by one officer Ncube who took him to CID department at Gweru Central Police for “questioning”. Our Rapid response team is working flat out to secure more details.
Cde Chanda is now being held at a building opposite to Main Post office in Gweru. He is in a room with 8 men. One of them identified himself as Ncube but refused to share reasons for picking our leader. We are now treating this as an abduction.
… Thanks for the online support. Mr Chanda has been released and ordered not to address teachers in Gweru district. He has not been charged but was detained for over 2 hours.
ARTUZ on Monday, June 3, 2019, embarked on a 3-day strike in a bid to force the government to address teachers’ working conditions.