First Edition, March 2025
Commonwealth Teachers Group (CTG)
Multiplicity of Teachers' Unions in the Education Sector and Its Effects on Teachers: The Case of Zambia. By CLIFFORD M. SALUSEKE DIRECTOR RESEARCH AND PROJECT BASIC EDUCATION TEACHERS UNION OF ZAMBIA Introduction
The education sector in Zambia has witnessed a proliferation of teachers' unions over the years. While unions play a
crucial role in advocating for teachers' rights, improving working conditions, and negotiating salaries, the existence
of multiple unions has raised concerns regarding its impact on the welfare of teachers. This paper explores the
implications of the multiplicity of teachers' unions in Zambia and assesses whether this fragmentation benefits or
disadvantages educators.
The Growth of Teachers' Unions in Zambia
Historically, Zambia had a single dominant teachers' union, the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT). Over
time, additional unions emerged, including the Secondary Schools Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), the Basic
Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ), and the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ). As at
January 2025 the education sector had 13 registered unions namely Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zambia
(ARTUZ), Basic Education Teachers’ Union of Zambia (BETUZ), Educators Trade Union of Zambia (EdTUZ) National
Educators’ Union of Zambia (NEUZ), National Teachers’ Union of Zambia (NATUZ), National Union of Public and
Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ), Professional Teachers’ Union of Zambia (PROTUZ), Progressive Educators’
Union of Zambia (PEUZ), Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia (SESTUZ), Special Education Teachers’ , Union
of Zambia (SPETUZ), United Teachers' Union of Zambia (UNITUZ), Zambia Teachers Union (ZATU) and Zambia
National Union of Teachers (ZNUT). Currently there are 140,000 unionized teachers against the 13 teachers unios.
The Basic education teachers Union (BETUZ) is the biggest with over 68,000 members.
These unions were established to address specific issues within the profession but have also led to division among
teachers.
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