The Struggle Continues Unabated : Teachers are their own Liberators
By Dr Takavafira Zhou.
Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – The gvt has given a one off payment, pathetic non negotiable cushioning one armed banditry offer of 22.7% to 5% to civil servants for 3 months which in principle amounts to less than $140. Even that offer has not been paid as yet to teachers.
- Last Friday government brought a pathetic increase of $300 million up from $160 million which in principle amounts to an increase from 10% to 18% with effect from April 2019.
-It is clear that both the cushion and salary increase offer fall far short of the rate of fuel increase by more than 200%, hyper inflationary situation in Zimbabwe and sky rocketing of basic commodities, transport costs, accommodation, school fees, medical expenses etc.
-Nothing has also been done to address the call by all level headed civil servants, to pay them in US$, more so given government confirmation through recent fuel prices that the US$ and bond are not trading at 1:1
In light of the foregoing and ongoing price increases, Ptuz calls government to mellow down to a more constructive approach permeable to reason and facts by paying teachers reasonable salaries and improving their conditions of service. The payment of outstanding bonus on transport and housing allowances is a crucial issue, and so likewise is non-payment of tuition and levy by at least three children of a teacher. Equally important is provision of land for accommodation, non-payment of duty for a car in five years as well as empowerment of teachers so that they are in a better situation to write textbooks that should be used in schools and therefore fast track the implementation of the new curriculum.
In light of gvt arid, rigid and acidic offers teachers’ incapacitation remains real and they can only afford to attend work for one day per week. The 14 days notice to industrial action given by civil servants matures Friday this week, and thereafter civil servants particularly teachers are ready to engage in full throttled industrial action. It is therefore incumbent upon gvt to give a reasonable offer this weak. At any rate gvt must seriously consider the position papers proferred by several unions. Leaders of unions would not be held responsible for any eventuality next week, should gvt fail to provide a reprieve this week. Teachers are workers and not slaves and must be treated with dignity and paid highly. This is purely a labour issue that must not be politicised. The unity of teachers in pursuit of status restoration will triumph over their misery, poverty, immiseration, degradation and anguish.
Viva status restoration viva!
Viva Ptuz viva
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou
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