Teachers union denies meeting with Socialist Party, blames fake social media page for false claims

The Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) has dismissed reports alleging that it held a meeting with the Socialist Party to discuss matters affecting the education sector.

President Hakainde Hichilema recently raised concern over the purported meeting, though he acknowledged that it was within the Union’s right to engage in such discussions.

However, during a media briefing in Lusaka on Sunday, BETUZ Secretary General, Henry Sinkala, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to professionalism and non-partisanship, stressing that no such meeting had taken place.

“First and foremost, we extend our sincere gratitude to the New Dawn Government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema. The ongoing transformation within Zambia’s education sector is both historic and commendable,” Sinkala said.

He noted that the recruitment of thousands of teachers, improved school infrastructure, the free education policy, and the government’s attention to teacher welfare had revitalized the sector.

“These are not just statistics — they represent real, meaningful change in classrooms, communities, and in the lives of teachers,” Sinkala said, adding that BETUZ had been a committed partner in these national efforts.

He emphasized that the union had constructively contributed to policy implementation, maintained dialogue with government stakeholders, and embraced the democratic space created by the current administration — a space where trade unions could freely advocate and contribute.

“In response to the recent report referenced by the President suggesting BETUZ held a meeting with a named political party, we wish to clarify: BETUZ has never met or held any meeting with any political party,” he said.

Sinkala added that if anyone met with an opposition party under the BETUZ name, they did so without the union’s blessing or authority.

“BETUZ remains a non-partisan, professional, and member-driven organization. Our mission is to safeguard teacher welfare and support the government in building a fair and effective education system,” he said.

He affirmed that the union complies with the Industrial and Labour Relations Act and holds transparency and accountability as core principles.

Sinkala also revealed that a fake Facebook page was being used to impersonate BETUZ and spread politically charged, false statements — including a fabricated endorsement of a political party.

“This is a fraudulent and criminal act, clearly intended to deceive the public and tarnish the union’s name,” he said, adding that the matter had been reported to law enforcement under the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act.

He demanded that the perpetrators be identified and prosecuted.

“We urge the public and all stakeholders to rely solely on BETUZ’s official communication platforms for accurate information,” Sinkala said.

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