RadioVop
25 February 2009
HARARE, – Education Minister David Coltart has made a plea to teachers to go back to work amid reports that in Chimanimani a headman is turning away teachers who fled political violence as commercial banks are also failing to cash the USD 100 vouchers paid as allowances to all civil servants.
Headman Caleb Zimunda of Zimunda area in Chimanimani, was allegedly refusing to allow teachers to return, threatening them with fresh violence while many civil servants, including teachers, were on Wednesday stuck in winding queues at banks – which have run out of the needed foreign currency.
‘Since we returned to the school on the 12th of this month, the headman has been harassing us. One of the teachers who has been on the headman’s ‘wanted list’ was last week dragged at the headman’s village court and fined a goat for allegedly influencing the local villagers to vote for the MDC during the March harmonized elections,’ said a teacher at Sigmund primary school.
The teacher who has now left the school said he was now making efforts to transfer from the school.
‘Unless the safety of teachers is guaranteed, most teachers will not be able to go back to their schools in some rural areas as some Zanu PF supporters and chiefs are refusing to embrace the all inclusive government,’ said the teacher.
Coltart said an agreement had been reached with the Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe to get all schools functioning again after protracted negotiations.
“We jointly expect all teachers to report for duty by the 2nd of March 2009 and that all the schools will be fully functional by 9th March 2009,†he said.
Zimbabwe’s teachers have been on strike since last year when they worked for an average 23 days only. Teachers resumed the strike this year, resulting in schools failing to open in January. They are demanding foreign currency salaries of no less than USD 2 300 among others. Grade Seven, O and A level examinations remain unmarked.
Coltart disclosed that his ministries and the two teachers’ unions agreed on seven points, chief among them that teachers that had been absent from duty due to the industrial action be granted given amnesty and that the March 2009 salaries and allowances would be agreed upon through negotiations in order to bring teachers’ salaries in line with the regional average.
However on Wednesday hordes of civil servants, including teachers, were stranded in the capital after failing to cash their USD 100 vouchers at most banks and building societies, which had run out of foreign currency. The vouchers are part of the civil servants’ allowances.
Coltart said it had been further agreed that the 2008 educational year would not be revisited, adding that ministry intended regularizing the 2009 calendar as soon as possible.
“In this regard, the 1st term and 2nd Term will end as originally advised. The 2nd Term will begin earlier on Tuesday 5 May instead of 12 May. The 3rd Term will begin 2 September instead of Tuesday 8 September,†he said.