Following the negotiations by the Zimbabwe Nurses Association that produced fruitful results concerning the remuneration of the nurses, teaches have concluded that the associations that represent them are doing a shoddy job at their expense.
“The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) don’t negotiate for the teachers’ good working conditions and remuneration. Giving us promises, diaries, pens and a shirt once in two years for the ten dollars that they deduct on a monthly basis, does not commensurate with the money they take from us.
“These unions have become toothless dogs. It’s high time teachers show that they are rational people who should not be treated as second class citizens and also show that they are the people who need to have their dignity restored,” complained a male teacher from Mudzi who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.
There are calls for teachers to make a collective action that will see “these unions which lie that they represent them, feel the heat, as they cannot keep enjoying your hard earned money while seated in their offices.”
“If any of these unions does not take action by the month-end, let’s all stop our deductions to these unions until they fully represent the welfare of the teachers. It’s time you woke up and smell the coffee.You need a recommended teacher – pupil ratio, go on leave and have your salaries raised to meet the current exorbitant prices of goods.”
Joseph Busha, the President of FreeZim congress urged Zimbabwean teachers to vote this 2018 election knowing well that the Mnangagwa government was treating them as second class civil servants.
Teachers are to be paid their 2017 bonuses after the preferred armed forces. They were forced to adopt and implement the so called new curriculum. Investigations by Spiked Online Media revealed that teachers who accrue maximum leave days were not allowed to go on leave whilst soldiers are enjoying their leave days.
“Teachers are paid their monthly salaries after the preferred armed forces members have all received their salaries. Most of them teach in rural areas where plastic money isn’t useful yet they are forced to withdraw $20 bond coins. The accommodation at most rural schools is below standard but teachers are not given bush allowances but if soldiers have any activity outside their barracks are paid bush allowances. Teachers who are trained for 3years earn far less than the soldiers who are trained for only 6 months. Teachers are not paid transport allowances although they use public transport. Soldiers who use taxpayers money on uniforms enjoy free transport whilst in uniforms. This calls upon teachers to vote wisely. It is upon the teachers to liberate themselves,” Busha said.