Tanzania union sues after teachers caned

Tanzania's teaching union says it will sue the government after four teachers were publicly caned by a local militia.

The punishment had "dehumanised" the teachers, one of whom was pregnant, said union official Ezekiah Uluoch.

He told the BBC that the official Sungusungu militia had caned the teachers after they were late for a meeting in the northern Shinyanga area.

Last year, a local Tanzanian official was sacked for ordering police to whip teachers for being late for school.

"We are condemning the behaviour of the militia group and we hope the people will be taken to a court of law," Mr Uluoch told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

He said that as the Sungusungu militia was part of the state security structure, the Tanzania Teachers' Union was holding the government responsible.