Table 6: Violations against teachers – 2001 to 2008 Abduction Assault Family involved Forced to flee Forced to attend rallies Forced denunciation Ordered to remove or dismissed Property destruction Murdered Threatened Total: Percentage: 2001 4 6 1 10 3 2 2002 1 14 2 7 1 1 2003 0 4 1 0 1 0 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 0 1 1 2 0 0 2006 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 0 0 0 0 0 0 2008 3 8 1 2 2 0 Totals 8 (6%) 33 (26%) 6 (5%) 21 (17%) 7 (6%) 3 (2%) 4 2 1 9 42 33% 4 6 1 9 46 37% 0 1 0 1 8 6% 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 7 6% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 23 18% 10 (8%) 14 (11%) 3 (2%) 21 (17%) 126 As the reports on teachers detailed, teachers were seen as prima facie supporters of parties in opposition to ZANU PF, more especially because the independent trade union representing many teachers, the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), had frequently been in conflict with the government. Furthermore, teachers were usually involved as polling officers in elections, and hence their loyalty (or usually, their independence) became a major issue in elections. Finally, being the more educated members of local communities, their opinions could be very influential in any election. Teachers thus became targets, as is clearly illustrated in Table 6, with 2008 once again the worst year for violations. The consequences for some teachers were not trivial: Simba Chikova, a high school teacher at Zaka Secondary Schol in Zaka was allegedly beaten to death by ZANU PF supporters. He was taken from his home on the school premises and attacked on accusations of being an MDC supporter. He was taken to a ZANU PF torture camp where he was assaulted with logs until he passed away. His body was later found dumped outside the school premises. In other cases the violence targeted teachers, but also had serious consequences for the pupils and the entire surrounding community: The headmaster and four other teachers at Chitsanga Primary School in Bikita were beaten by a group of Zanu PF youths for chanting MDC slogans in class. They later ransacked their houses; the school was closed on 17 January 2002 as all the teachers had fled. 3.2.2 Perpetrators Once again the perpetrators described in the Human Rights Forum reports are little different in respect of violations against schools, pupils, and teachers than those reported for other groups or communities. Zimbabwe [PTUZ] by the Research and Advocacy Unit [RAU]. HARARE: PROGRESSIVE TEACHERS UNION OF ZIMBABWE. 14