The Herald
2 September 2009
By Lloyd Gumbo and John Manzongo
Harare — Some teachers’ unions have urged their members to report for duty today following a meeting with senior Government officials over salaries and other work-related issues yesterday.
Two of the three major unions the Progressive Tea-chers’ Union of Zimbabwe and the Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe — said their members would take classes when schools reopen today.
Only the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association, which had called for a strike over salaries among other grievances, remained adamant the industrial action would go ahead, describing yesterday’s meeting as “unprocedural”.
Zimta president Mrs Tendai Chikowore said they did not attend the meeting.
However, yesterday afternoon boarders could be seen travelling to their various schools with parents expressing hope that teachers would report for duty while their grievances were being addressed.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said two of the three major unions had assured Government that their members would report for duty as scheduled.
“The two unions which attended the meeting assured us that lessons would resume. “Regrettably, Zimta did not attend the meeting and we assume their members might absent themselves but they should know that it is the children who suffer once again,” he said.
Minister Coltart said the third term was crucial con- sidering that end of year examinations were just around the corner and the best way forward would be for teachers to report for duty as Government continued to work on factors affecting the profession.
“We sympathise with teachers’ plight but they should understand the challenges that Government is facing. We must pull the load together,” he added.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti commended the two unions for appreciating Government’s efforts. “We had a frank meeting with the unions, however Zimta boycotted and we assume their members will not attend lessons.
“It is their democratic right to strike, but they should evaluate the merits and demerits of the strike,” he said. Minister Biti said it was a well-known fact that the economy was still recovering and no one should derail Government’s turnaround efforts.
Zimta president Mrs Chikowore, however, said: “We did not attend the meeting because Government has not yet addressed our grievances but they went on to invite other unions that had not raised any issues with them.
“Government is trying to divide us by portraying us as deviants and confused.”
Sources revealed that in yesterday’s meeting Minister Biti explained that Government revenue inflows were still low and hence the State could not pay the kind of salaries teachers were presently demanding.
He pointed out that the State had recorded its highest inflows in July when about US$90 million was collected. Of this, civil servants’ salaries chewed 65 percentor US$52 million.
He said conditions would improve as revenue collections rose. Yesterday parents interviewed by The Herald urged Government to pay teachers “reasonable” salaries, but implored educators not to abandon their posts.
Mr Jonathan Mavhiyane, whose son is a boarder at St Mark’s in Mhondoro, said: “Government should pay meaningful salaries to teachers since they are professionals who deserve a decent life.
“Teachers cannot be the same as general labourers. However, at the same time teachers must appreciate that they cannot hold the nation to ransom and must negotiate as they work.”
Another parent, Mr Stanley Kufandirori, whose daughter is a pupil at Langham Girls’ High said: “The current salaries are commensurate with their services because they are not teaching but creating extra lessons to make more cash for themselves.
“They deserve what they are getting and until they realise that we will not spoil them by indulging their desire to have large sums of money we cannot support strikes.
“They are earning more money than they are working for.”