SW Radio Africa
By Alex Bell
01 May 2009
Government officials and teachers’ unions have agreed to meet again on Monday, in an effort to avert a possible strike by teachers at the start of the new school semester next week.
Schools are set to reopen on Tuesday and Monday’s meeting will see Education and Finance ministry officials trying to sway teachers away from the threatened mass action. Teachers are demanding, among other things, a significant salary increase of more than US$1000, saying they will not return to work until the demands are met. Leaders from the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) met with Education Minister Senator David Coltart on Thursday, after the deadline for the government to produce a better salary structure for teachers passed this week.
Senator Coltart has already indicated that the government does not have the funds to increase teachers’ wages, and called on acting Finance Minister Elton Mangoma to help explain the situation to teachers’ at Thursday’s meeting. The meeting was deferred to Monday, apparently to allow the donor community to participate in the talks and to explore ways in which they can assist the government in paying teachers. PTUZ President Takavafira Zhou explained on Friday that teachers understand the financial situation facing the Education Ministry, and said he was pleased there would be a chance to appeal to donors to assist in salary payments.
The government has called on the country’s civil service, who each receive a US$100 monthly allowance, to be patient over their meagre salaries until the country’s economy begins to stabilise. But with the economy completely dollarised and the local dollar being abandoned in favour of foreign currency, the US$100 payout has not been able to keep teachers and their families financially afloat. Zhou described the reality facing teachers, saying many have been forced into ‘moonlighting’ as menial workers for any extra money.
“It is so degrading for teachers to do this but they have been left no choice,†Zhou explained. “How else can they look after their families?â€
The salary increase of more than US$1000 that is being demanded is highly unrealistic even compared to the rest of Africa, where teachers earn much less than this. Zhou argued that his union is aware that the demand is too high, and instead is pushing for a proposed ‘salary roadmap’ that will pave the way for significant increases in the future. He explained that teachers would be happy with a US$500 increase in the short term, but also said that a strike has not yet been ruled out.
It is being argued that ZIMTA, which is leading the strike threat and list of demands, is involved in trying to force the MDC out of the unity government. The ZANU PF friendly teachers’ association has never before taken such a strong stance against the government, despite earning a pittance for years under ZANU PF rule. The argument stands that by forcing such an unrealistic salary demand and by threatening the stability of the unity government with a teachers’ strike, ZIMTA is working with ZANU PF to force the MDC out of the coalition.
Meanwhile, salary concerns aside, Zimbabwe’s teachers continue to be victims of ongoing harassment and intimidation across the country. According to international rights group, Amnesty International, teachers have expressed serious concerns about their safety, as ZANU PF supporters are still threatening them with violence. Many teachers were targets of politically motivated attack during the 2008 presidential election period, and there are fears among the teaching community that they will still be vulnerable in future elections.