Zimbabwe teachers dig in on strike

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

Teachers in Zimbabwe are digging in on their threat not to report for duty when schools open on September 28.

The educators want a “living wage”, with eight unions that met on Tuesday resolving to stay away from classes. They have since declared “incapacitation”, demanding salaries of at least US$520 or the equivalent.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, the biggest representative bodies, attended the Tuesday meeting.

The likely strike could throw public examinations that begin on December 1 off rail.

But authorities insist “it’s all hands on deck” and “schools will open come September28th”.

“The long and short of it is that on the 28 th , schools are not reopening. This is because the Government has not responded to our demands,” said PTUZ Secretary-General Raymond Majongwe.

“We are saying we want a living wage. Take us back to where we were in October 2018 when we earned US$550.”

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said, “All is on course and it is all hands on deck. We are working with development partners, schools, districts, parents and we believe that come the 28th of September 2020, schools will open.”