Thumbnail: Bridget Dhliwayo was dismissed from teaching after protesting to demand fair wages for teachers. She is defying her dismissal and is risking her career to uplift Zimbabwe’s educators and defend dignity.

Profile: Zimbabwean labour rights activist and teacher Bridget Dhliwayo has emerged as a defiant voice against state repression after being summarily dismissed from her post at Zibungululu Secondary School in rural Tsholotsho.

Dhliwayo, who has been a teacher for more than 12 years, was recently fired by the Public Service Commission for staging a classroom protest over poor salaries. Her dismissal followed a disciplinary hearing in which authorities accused her of misconduct for taking a selfie inside her classroom on May 13, 2025, holding a placard that read: “We demand a fair wage; we say no more to slave wages. Sifuna imali now @ ARTUZ.” The photo, shared on an ARTUZ (Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe) WhatsApp group, highlighted dilapidated classroom conditions and was accompanied by the caption: “Enough is enough guys. Look at the condition of the classrooms.”

Officials alleged that Dhliwayo abandoned lessons between May 13 and May 20, 2025; they cited repeated defiance despite prior warnings. Acting under Section 46 of the Public Service Regulations, the Provincial Education Director ordered her discharge effective May 14, 2026.

Dhliwayo has refused to retreat, instead taking her fight to the Labour Court of Zimbabwe. She filed an appeal in Bulawayo Labour Court under case number LCB94/26. arguing that she continued teaching during the disputed period, though some pupils were absent or uncooperative. She insists that her protest was a constitutional right exercised after working hours, and she disputes claims that her photo caption was proven in evidence.

Labour unions like ARTUZ say that Dhliwayo’s courage underscores the risks faced by educators who challenge state authority. From a union representative: “The fight for a better salary is not yet over. Dhliwayo's case is an example of how our employer is determined to fight collective action as provided for in our Constitution.”

Rights groups argue that Dhliwayo’s dismissal reflects a wider pattern of silencing dissent in the public service. The outcome of her appeal could set a precedent for teachers across the country who continue to demand salaries that match the rising cost of living. Recent government salary adjustments and allowances have done little to settle discontent amongst civil servants. The teachers' unions are demanding a salary of USD1000.

Dhliwayo’s case has become emblematic of the broader struggle by Zimbabwean teachers for fair wages and dignified working conditions. Despite threats and dismissal, Dhliwayo has vowed to continue pressing for justice: “This fight is not just about me, it is about every teacher and all the civil servants who deserves respect and a living wage.”