BBC
4 May 2009

Teachers in Zimbabwe have called off a strike despite their wage demands not being met, while the government has slashed school fees for the new term.

David Coltart said the government had no money to raise their salaries, but he had agreed to help teachers by giving their children free schooling.

Teachers’ groups said they accepted the government was struggling for funds and needed time to raise revenue.

Teachers are paid $100 (£66) a month but unions wanted four times as much.

“The doors may open… but many schools do not have roofs or doors or windows” said Senator David Coltart, Education minister.

Mr Coltart has been in protracted talks with unions and foreign aid donors to make sure the schools reopened in time for the new term on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwean government has also met unions’ demand for a huge cut in school fees – which most parents cannot afford – to get children back into the classroom.

Zimbabwe’s state education system had virtually collapsed until the new power-sharing government agreed to pay teachers in foreign currency in February.

Mr Coltart said that although the new term would begin, the education system was a “shadow” of what it had been.

“The doors may open, there may be children in the classrooms and teachers teaching, but there are very few textbooks in the rural areas and many schools do not have roofs or doors or windows,” he told the BBC.

Mr Coltart, a former opposition activist, said the state of the service was down to two decades of neglect by President Robert Mugabe’s government.

‘Responsible’

Raymond Majongwe, head of the Progressive Teachers’ Union, said going back to work was the “responsible” thing to do, even though all their demands had not been met.

He told the BBC’s Network Africa programme: “We have no reason to proceed with the strike action that will do nothing but confuse the situation that we are trying to ultimately address.

“As the government does not have the capacity to address the problems that it faces, so the donors need to chip in.”

He said they were pleased Zimbabwe’s government had agreed to cut school fees from between $50 (£33) and $150 (£100) a term to a maximum of $20 (£13) and that teachers’ children would be exempt from fees.

Most Western donors, however, remain reluctant to restore aid to Zimbabwe while Mr Mugabe remains president.

Last week, African countries agreed to give Zimbabwe $400m-worth of credit.

Teachers and other public sector workers agreed to end industrial action in February after the government agreed to pay their salaries in foreign currency because of massive inflation.

Zimbabwe’s economic collapse had left the country’s currency virtually worthless – and many civil servants unable to afford even the bus fare to work.

The coalition government formed in February between President Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, faces calls from eviscerated public services across the spectrum for more funding.

On Friday, Mr Tsvangirai told a Labour Day rally that the government was broke and could not afford to pay any more than the allowance of $100 a month. He said this was also what Mr Mugabe was being paid.

The Herald
4 May 2009

Harare — A LEADING Chinese arts group — Gansu Art Troupe — which is in the country on a cultural exchange programme — gave a scintillating performance in Harare over the weekend.
Several Government officials were part of the audience that watched the show at the Celebration Centre.

The Gansu Art Troupe is a large-scale professional performance group, composed of Chinese national prize-winning artists.

It has enjoyed worldwide acclaim since 1980 for its attractive Buddhist dances. Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Yuan Nansheng said China and Zimbabwe have engaged in cultural exchange programmes in various forms for the past three decades.

He said this had helped consolidate and facilitate friendship between the two countries and people.
“The visiting performance by Gansu Art Troupe, is another reflection of such good wish of our two sides. I do believe that cultural exchange is a powerful means which can bridge the gap between people from different cultures and draw their hearts closer,” Ambassador Yuan said.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart paid tribute to the Chinese government for assisting Zimbabwe in most of its developmental programmes.

“Our relations have grown over the years and this has seen the Chinese government assist in the construction of the National Sports Stadium and we have a lot to learn from the people of China’s civilisation that dates back thousands of years,” he said.

VOA
By Patience Rusere
Washington
4 May 2009

Zimbabwean Education Minister David Coltart on Monday staved off a strike by teachers on the eve of a new school term with help from international donors including the United Nations Children’s Fund, which promised to appeal for funding for underpaid instructors.

Officials of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association had threatened to launch a new strike if the government did not review the monthly US$100 paid to teachers like other civil servants.

When introduced in March by the unity government installed in mid-February, the sum was intended to be a supplement to public service salaries paid in Zimbabwean dollars. But the government has since abandoned all use of the worthless national currency.

Coltart said UNICEF promised to launch an appeal by month’s end through the office of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for funds to help increase Zimbabwean teacher salaries.

The meeting was attended by European Union and Swedish Development Agency officials who said they wanted to help but as a matter of policy were monitoring political conditions.

Coltart told told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that he has a five-point plan to rescue the education sector, but warned the initiative is only short-term.

Secretary General Richard Gundani of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association said his members were touched by the good will demonstrated by the education minister and international donors and would review the situation at a later date.

The Guardian
3 May 2009
By David Smith, Africa correspondent

State schools in Zimbabwe have been ordered to slash their fees in a bid to stave off the collapse of the country’s education system, it was reported today. The move came after Morgan Tsvangirai, the prime minister, admitted that the unity government he formed with his rival, President Robert Mugabe, was “broke” and could not meet union demands for higher wages.

Zimbabwe’s Sunday Mail newspaper said Senator David Coltart, the education minister, had recommended that state schools should cut their fees when they open for a new term on Tuesday because many parents could not afford them.

“I cannot divulge the figures at the moment because the recommendations are going to Mugabe, Tsvangirai and deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara on Monday,” he was quoted as saying. “However, what we want are substantial cuts.”

The government set school fees in state schools at between $20 and $280 a term two months ago, but many parents have failed to pay, citing low wages and high living costs.

Coltart added: “When the fees were set in March, the assumption was that we would get balance of payments support [to] kickstart the economy. But this has not materialised and parents are worse off than before.”

The malaise in Zimbabwe’s education system, once the envy of Africa, is a telling measure of the country’s steep decline. In the early years of independence under Mugabe, who began his career as a teacher, 96% of children attended school.

Mugabe has since presided over an exodus of tens of thousands of teachers, which has left many schools shut and fears that a generation will grow up without education. Zimbabwe was criticised last week by Amnesty International for failing to protect teachers from harassment and beatings during last year’s elections.

The country’s top university in Harare has been closed for nearly a year, with broken toilets and no piped water. The state media reported yesterday that only 68 students out of 12,000 had paid their full fees of about $300 when the college tried to reopen in March, and it was now appealing for foreign assistance.

Zimbabwe said last week that it had secured $400m in credit lines from African states to revive some of its ailing industries, many of which are operating at below 20% of their capacity.

Trade unions have called for a monthly minimum wage of $450 and threatened to go on strike if their demands are not met. But Tsvangirai told a May Day rally in Harare that no state worker, including Mugabe, was earning more than $100 a month. “This government is broke, and we are only able to pay the $100 allowance,” he said, adding that this would “graduate into a proper salary” when the situation improved and more people were paying tax.

“We have been in office for less than three months. I plead with you to please give us time.”
Unemployment is estimated at 90%, while numerous hospitals are closed and roads and sewers have fallen into disrepair. Zimbabwe has asked for billions of dollars to rescue the economy, but western countries have demanded broad reforms before restoring aid.

There is an increasing belief among analysts that the unity government appears to be stalling, with Mugabe still holding the whip hand. They cite as evidence his continued detention of political activists, renewed farm invasions and the seizure of the department of communications from Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change.

Reuters
Sunday May 3 2009
By Cris Chinaka

HARARE, May 3 (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s government has ordered all state schools to slash their fees as it struggles with an economic crisis desperately crying out for massive foreign aid, a local official newspaper said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told a Friday May Day rally a new unity government he formed with his rival President Robert Mugabe in February to try end a political and economic crisis was broke and could not meet union demands for higher wages.

Zimbabwe’s Sunday Mail newspaper said Education Minister David Coltart had recommended state schools catering for a majority of Zimbabwean students should cut their fees when they open for a new term on Tuesday because many parents could not afford them.

“I cannot divulge the figures at the moment because the recommendations are going to the (government) principals Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Monday. However, what we want are substantial cuts,” he was quoted as saying.

Coltart was not available for further comment. The Sunday Mail said the minister was reducing the fees because Zimbabwe had so far failed to get the huge financial aid it needs to repair a shattered economy with a 90 percent jobless rate.

The Zimbabwean government set school fees in state schools at between $20 and $280 a term two months ago, but many parents have failed to pay, citing low wages and high living costs.
“When the (school) fees were set in March, the assumption was that we would get balance of payments support (to) kick start the economy. But this has not materialised and parents are worse off than before,” Coltart said.

On Friday, Tsvangirai said the power-sharing administration his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had formed with Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party was bankrupt and unable to raise the current monthly salary of $100 it is paying its workers to the $454 being demanded as a minimum wage by unions.
Besides a crumbling infrastructure, mirrored in potholed roads and broken sewers in towns across the country, Zimbabwe’s once sound education system is also wasting away under the economic crisis.
The country’s top Zimbabwe University in Harare has been closed for close to a year now with broken toilets and without piped water.

State media reported on Sunday only 68 students out of 12,000 had fully paid their fees of about $300 when the college tried to reopen in March, and it was also now appealing for foreign assistance. Zimbabwe said last week it had secured $400 million in credit lines from African states to revive some of its ailing industries, many operating at below 20 percent of their capacity.

But analysts say Zimbabwe badly needs billions of dollars from Western donors, who are demanding broad economic and political reforms, including ending a new wave of farm invasions by Mugabe’s supporters, before they release any huge amounts.

Mugabe, 85, Zimbabwe’s ruler since independence from Britain in 1980, denies any blame for the southern African country’s crisis and says the economy has been sabotaged by “racist” enemies of his seizures of white farms for landless blacks.

Sunday Mail
By Morris Mkwate
3 May 2009

THE Government intends to substantially reduce this year’s second term tuition fees at State-run schools across the country to hedge parents from high education costs.

In an interview last Thursday, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said his ministry took the decision after it became apparent that most parents could not afford the fees that Government set last term.

Mr Coltart said he would announce the new figures tomorrow after President Mugabe, Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara had considered the initiative. The second school term begins on Tuesday.

“I cannot divulge the figures at the moment because the recommendations are going to the three principals on Monday. However, what we want is a substantial cut,” he said.

Last term, the Government set tuition charges for its schools in foreign currency in line with the multi-currency transaction system, which was introduced in February this year.

Fees for primary schools in low-density and high-density areas were slated at US$150 and US$20 respectively while those for secondary schools in low-density suburbs ranged from US$200 to US$280.

Students attending secondary school in high-density areas were expected to pay between US$100 and US$180 while those in rural areas were to fork out between US$50 and US$80.

However, most parents could not raise the amounts in lump sums and could still not meet the charges even after authorities permitted them to stagger the payments.

Mr Coltart said a survey by the Education Advisory Board and meetings with school parent boards had corroborated that “a vast majority” of parents could not afford the fees.

He said the Cabinet Ministerial Economic Co-ordinating Committee subsequently met on Wednesday last week and resolved that the fees should be reviewed downwards.

If the fees were slashed, this would mean funds required for the daily running of the schools would be drawn from school development levies.

“When fees were set in March, the assumption was we would get balance of payments support to kickstart the economy. But this has not materialised; so parents are worse off than before,” he said.

“The basis of our original costing, which justified the fees, is subject to review. Since March, I have been inquiring on the cost of educational material and I believe that we can make some substantial cuts.

“The fees that will be announced on Monday (tomorrow) are an interim measure, which is designed to ensure more children are in school. We will revert to something substantive when we secure sufficient funds to support the schools.”

Meanwhile, fees for most private and mission schools are expected to remain unchanged, as only a few have applied to the ministry for upward reviews.

Newsnet
Friday 01 May 2009

The government and teachers’ unions have agreed to hold a second round meeting on Monday to discuss teachers’ salaries.

The government and teachers’ unions have agreed to hold a second round meeting on Monday to discuss teachers’ salaries.

This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, following a three hour meeting with teachers’ representatives in Harare yesterday.

He said they deferred the meeting to Monday to allow the donor community to participate and explore ways in which they can assist government to pay teachers.

The meeting was also attended by the acting Finance Minister, Mr Elton Mangoma who explained to the teachers union leaders the difficulties the government is facing and what is being is being done to address the issue.

Mr Mangoma has also agreed to review school fees saying the current ones are unaffordable.

Both ministers described yesterday’s meeting as constructive and similar sentiments were echoed by the Zimta Secretary-General, Mr Richard Gundani.

Mr Gundani said the government has agreed to look into issues raised like exempting teachers from paying school fees for their children.

The government has since urged civil servants who include teachers to be patient over salaries saying these will only improve once the economy starts ticking and the tax base expands correspondingly.

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?”

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.

The Herald
1st May 2008

Harare — Government and teachers’ unions held a crisis meeting yesterday over salaries following a decision by teachers not to report for work when the second term begins next week.

A further round of talks will be held on Monday where donors are expected to join in the discussions.
Education, Arts, Sports and Culture Minister David Coltart and Acting Finance Minister Elton Mangoma, who is also Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, represented the Government while teachers were represented by the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association and the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe.

In an interview after the three-hour-long meeting, Minister Coltart described the talks as constructive.
He said they deferred the talks to next Monday to allow the donor community, who include Unicef and other co-operating partners, to participate and explore ways in which they could assist Government pay teachers.

“We had a constructive meeting with the trade unions of teachers today. There will be another meeting to be attended by Unicef and other representatives of the donor community where we hope they will enter into a discussion to pay incentives for teachers,” Minister Coltart said.

“I am going to chair the meeting and hope the donor community will commit itself in principle to pay their allowances. It was a very productive meeting that I had with them.”

Minister Coltart said no figures were discussed at yesterday’s meeting.

“Minister Mangoma explained to the teachers the difficulties the Government is facing and what is being done,” he said.

Contacted for comment, Zimta secretary-general Mr Richard Gundani also described the meeting as positive.

He said Government had agreed to look into issues they had raised like exempting teachers from paying school fees for their children.

Mr Gundani said they had also complained about bank charges on foreign currency accounts, which ranged between 10 and 15 percent.

Minister Mangoma said banks were in breach of an agreement with the Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe which stipulated that no commission would be levied on teachers’ accounts.

“The minister has also agreed to review school fees because the current ones are unaffordable. Teachers would be exempted from paying school fees for their children as a stop-gap measure,” he said.

“Government said at the moment they had no capacity to increase the US$100 monthly allowance and the only route was to engage the donor community.”

Zimta resolved at its annual congress in Bulawayo last weekend that teachers would not report for duty next week. The association demanded a review of the US$100 allowance, which they said was inadequate to meet basic requirements like rent and transport costs.

Government has urged civil servants to be patient over salaries, saying these would only improve once the economy starts ticking and the tax revenue base expands correspondingly.

Chronicle
1 May 2009
Entertainment Reporter

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe is inviting stakeholders and youths to participate in the official Culture Week launch on 18 May in Harare, an official has said.

This year’s celebration will be held under the theme “Culture and Youth”.

In an interview, Nicholas Moyo, NACZ assistant director for arts promotions and development, said the province was geared for celebrations adding that the province is set to be a hive of activity.

“Every year we pick a particular theme that guides our week, and preparations are going as planned, as everything is under control. We hold these celebrations on an annual provincial rotational basis, and this year we are in the capital city,” he said.

He said they chose the theme “Culture and Youth”, in recognition of the role that young people play in upholding diversity and promoting development.

“Young people are the window of hope for a united nation, they are the future leaders and hence it is our duty to enforce that they play a pivotal role in the society,” he said.

On the day of the event, various arts and cultural activities ranging from poetry, speeches, dances, drama, and music will be performed to mark the week.

“Culture week is observed by different artistes in a bid to preserve their traditions. It is mainly recognised by musicians and poets, who will be reciting suitable poems for the event.

“It is unfortunate that I cannot disclose the musicians and poets that are going to perform at the event, as we are yet to confirm with them and also them to confirm with us,” said Moyo.

A nation’s identity is seen through its people, the people are identified by their culture that is passed through generations by the youth. Youths are challenged to fight cultural imperialism and thereby celebrate who they are through arts and culture.

The guest of honour in this year’s celebrations is the Minister of Education, Sports, Art and Culture, David Coltart.

The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity by UNESCO in 2001 proclaimed 21 May as the World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Thus it nurtures diverse human capacities and values, in the process promoting national growth that fosters unity and national identity.