Government is broke, says Coltart as he asks teachers to end strike

The Zimbabwean
19th February 2009

HARARE – Zimbabwe Education Minister David Coltart has told teachers that the new unity government is ” broke” and unable to meet their pay demands, union leaders told ZimOnline on Thursday.

Coltart met leaders of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) on Wednesday to plead with the two unions that represent the country’s teachers to call off a strike for more pay that has been going on since last year and has grounded the school system.

The Education Minister was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

The ZIMTA and PTUZ leaders said Coltart had been frank with them telling them government could not afford to give teachers more than the US$100-monthly allowance awarded all civil servants because it had no money.

The union leaders – who appeared amenable to Coltart’s plea to end the strike but insisted they would only take a final decision on the matter after consulting their members – said Coltart had told them he would approach United Nations agencies and international donors to try to raise cash to pay teachers.

“He (Coltart) briefed us about what the Ministry of Finance has offered all civil servants from a floor cleaner to a senior manager which is US$100 vouchers which are redeemable at banks,” said ZIMTA secretary general, Richard Gundani.

“He said on his part as Minister, he will engage United Nations agencies and other international donors to help because he said there is no money in government,” added Gundani.

Majongwe, who had earlier on Wednesday before meeting Coltart told ZimOnline, that PTUZ members would continue with the strike, said the Education Minister pleaded with teachers to return to classrooms while he scrounges for cash for their salaries.

He said: “Coltart was clear that the government is very broke. He pleaded with us to bear with the new government and go back to work.”

Gundani and Majongwe said they were consulting their structures before meeting Coltart next Monday to brief him on the outcome of their consultations with teachers.

But Majongwe hinted that teachers might return to schools in order to give the new government time to raise funds.

“There is a possibility we can give them a benefit of the doubt,” Majongwe said. “We might concede but on condition that the government accepts to admit all teachers that left the profession due to economic hardships and political circumstances without any conditionalities.”

Gundani said it was agreed that any teacher who left the profession with effect from 1 January 2009 should be re-engaged unconditionally.