Mozambique: Mocuba teacher who exposed alleged undue salary deductions found dead – reports

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Mocuba teacher who exposed alleged undue salary deductions found dead – reports

5:09 CAT | 05 Dec 2023

Image via Integrity

A teacher at the Muedamanga Primary School, in Mocuba district, Zambézia province, was found dead last weekend.

Telvino Manuel Benedito had denounced an alleged scheme of undue salary deductions carried out by the Zona de Influência Pedagógica (ZIP) coordinator, who at the time denied the accusations.

However, in audio recordings of a conversation with a human rights defender to which ‘Integrity’ has had access, the deceased revealed that he was receiving threats for having made the complaint.

In the conversation, the teacher said that there were already illegal orders to ‘lose’ him for allegedly having soiled the Mocuba district government’s reputation. In the dialogue, the teacher asked for protection.

Strangely Telvino Manuel Benedito was found dead, raising anger among his colleagues and family who said in an interaction with Integrity that, “It is a very revolting and shocking situation. That’s why we ask for justice.”

The case is already raising questions and accusations, the teacher having alleged that, since February this year, some of his colleagues had seen their salaries reduced by amounts varying from two to 35 meticais, allegedly by the ZIP coordinator. Some teachers had tired of the situation and asked to be transferred to other schools.

Given that the deceased said that the district administrator has accused him of having “soiled” the district, Integrity sought comment from the police and district government authorities in Mocuba, but without success.

Reacting, ANAPRO issued a note of condolence stating that “it is with enormous repudiation and revolt that ANAPRO learned on the afternoon of Sunday, December 3rd, of the macabre and criminal murder of teacher Telvino Manuel Benedito, assigned to the Muedamanga Primary School in Mocuba, a strange death, coming after he denounced unjustifiable salary deductions”.

“ANAPRO wishes to show solidarity with the teacher’s family and demands, from now on, a serious, swift and responsible investigation to hold accountable the criminals who killed our colleague.”

Meanwhile, there is no doubt that the complaints made by the deceased are at the root of this crime.

It should be recalled that this situation occurs at a time when MINEDH, as government representative, is at the negotiating table with associations to clarify various situations affecting the teaching profession, including overtime which has not been paid for more than 12 months. ANAPRO understands that this death could condition the negotiations.

Source: Integrity