More allegations pour in, as forum claims teacher recruitment exercise littered with corruption

The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has demanded the immediate cancellation of the recent teacher recruitment, citing corruption and lack of transparency.

FDD Chairperson for International Relations, Anthony Chibuye, said the party had questioned the government’s decision not to publicly advertise the recruitment process last year.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, Chibuye said the government opted to select teachers from a pool of previous applicants instead of inviting fresh applications, a move he claimed was designed to facilitate corruption.

“From the onset, we knew the UPND government was corrupt in the way they planned this recruitment,” Chibuye alleged.

He further claimed that Education Minister, Douglas Siakalima, and the ruling party had compiled a list of 2,400 names, consisting of UPND officials and cadres, set to be released soon to further their “corrupt motives.”

Chibuye also alleged that some vulnerable teachers had been asked to pay up to K25,000 to secure placements.

“This is the highest level of corruption. We ask the people of Zambia, is this the government you wanted?” he questioned.

Read More: ‘Sham!’ Group alleges national teacher recruitment exercise marred by irregularities, lacked transparency

Additionally, he called on the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) to stop levying registration fees on unemployed teachers, arguing that it was unfair to charge those who had not been recruited.

“This appetite for money without doing anything for poor teachers is criminal,” he said.

Chibuye urged all unemployed teachers to stop paying fees to TCZ, saying membership was meaningless if they remained without jobs.

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