The Chronicle
18 January 2013
HUNDREDS of qualified teachers, who were re-engaged by the Government last year, have been left stranded after their contracts were not renewed this year.
An estimated 800 000 pupils are expected to be affected by the development.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) yesterday held a marathon meeting to discuss the issue.
Affected teachers accused the Government of deliberately sidelining them to reduce its wage bill.
A large number of teachers left the profession during the hyper inflationary pre-dollarisation era but were recalled last year to fill about 20 000 vacancies countrywide.
The teachers said the Government offered them contracts that were supposed to be renewed after every year.
“We were told that after two years, the Government would consider engaging us permanently. We are therefore disappointed that our employer has not communicated with us on the issue and we understand we have been replaced by temporary teachers,†said a  teacher from Matabeleland North who declined to be named.
The teachers said according to district education officers, about 3 000 of them were affected.
Another teacher said she now regretted having left her employment in neighbouring Botswana.
“I have tried to talk to the head at my school, but he says he cannot help me. He says he cannot allow me to teach without a contract because there will be problems if the Ministry ultimately decides not to give me a new contract. I could be far by now, if I had not heeded Government’s call and left my teaching job in Botswana,†said the teacher.
Contacted for comment on Thursday, Zimta chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said numerous complaints had been received on the subject.
“Hundreds of teachers are complaining. We know that vacancies are there because last year 13 000 temporary teachers were employed and there were about 20 000 vacancies. Now that Government has terminated these contracts, we estimate that about 800 000 pupils will have their learning disrupted,†said Mr Ndlovu.
He said Zimta would schedule a meeting with Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga to iron out the problem.
“We think the Government is creating bottlenecks to save on labour costs.
“The teachers have families and responsibilities. We are totally against the sudden decision that has left them jobless. We need to urgently meet with the Minister to solve the problem. By not renewing their contracts, these teachers cannot be permanently employed next year,†he said.
Mr Ndlovu said the issue of teachers’ contracts needed to be thoroughly examined and revised.
“Another issue is that, some of the affected teachers are aged above 50 years and the Government is treating them as retired teachers. We are against this because the Public Service Commission allows teachers to retire when they are 65 years old,†he said.
Yesterday, Mr Ndlovu was reportedly still locked in a meeting by the time of going to press.
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said he doubted that the number of teachers whose contracts were not renewed was that high.
“I need to get specific details like names and Employment Code Numbers so that we can assist those whose contracts were not renewed.
However, I need to get facts on the ground, because I do not think the number can be that high. I am surprised that so many could have been laid off,†said Sen Coltart.
Minister Matibenga could not be reached for comment.