The Chairperson of the Tanzania Union for the Protection and Defense of Teachers’ Rights (CHAKUHAWATA), Emmanuel Herman, has said that despite progress made by the union since its establishment, teachers in the country continue to face several challenges that require attention in order to improve their welfare.
Speaking in Dodoma on March 14, 2026 during a working meeting that brought together union leaders from different districts across Mainland Tanzania, Herman said some employers are still not providing the cooperation needed to support the union’s activities.
He noted that one of the key challenges involves district directors who fail to implement deductions of union membership fees from the salaries of teachers who have already completed the required procedures to join the union.
He explained that although workers have the legal right to join a trade union or move from one union to another, some employers are still failing to remit membership fee deductions for teachers who are members of CHAKUHAWATA.
Herman also said the union is not being involved in workers’ council meetings conducted in some local government authorities, which limits the representation of its members in discussions related to their welfare and working conditions.
Another concern raised by the union involves the transfer of teachers who serve as union leaders from their work stations without clear reasons and, in some cases, without receiving relocation allowances.
According to Herman, such actions affect the growth of the union and discourage teachers who may wish to join.
He further said there are cases where employers deduct membership fees for two different workers’ unions from the salaries of CHAKUHAWATA members at the same time, which he described as inconsistent with labour laws and official documentation.
Herman also expressed concern that members of the union are sometimes excluded from participating in celebrations marking International Workers’ Day.
In some regions, he said, members who attend the events have even been removed from workers’ parades alongside members of other unions.
Despite the challenges, Herman said the union has recorded notable growth since it was established in 2015 in Kigoma with an initial membership of 182 teachers from Kigoma/Ujiji Municipal Council.
He said that by February 2026 the union’s membership had increased to 49,750 members nationwide, with more than 3,000 additional teachers currently applying to join.
According to Herman, the union has already conducted leadership elections at branch and district levels in 84 districts and plans to hold elections in 44 more districts that have met the requirements set out in its constitution.
He added that CHAKUHAWATA has been working to strengthen unity among teachers while maintaining cooperation with the government, resolving various challenges through dialogue.
The union has also been providing support to members facing different hardships, including illness, legal issues, fire disasters and retirement needs, as well as offering other forms of social assistance.
In addition, the union has been assisting public institutions, particularly primary and secondary schools, by donating equipment such as photocopy machines, computers and construction materials.
Herman said the union’s General Assembly in January 2025 resolved to relocate its headquarters from Kigoma to Dodoma, a move aimed at improving coordination of its activities and services for members.
He stressed that the union will continue advocating for teachers’ rights and employment benefits while encouraging teachers to fulfill their professional responsibilities in their respective workplaces.
