SW RadioAfrica
By Violet Gonda
11 September 2009

The strike action led by the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) is going into its third week, with no solution in sight. ZIMTA embarked on a nationwide strike for better salaries and working conditions, to coincide with the start of the new term on September 3rd. ZIMTA acting Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, said the strike action will continue until the authorities prioritised education. However he said the union is waiting for a number of crises meetings with the authorities next week. Ndlovu said this was as a result of meetings they first had with Education Minister David Coltart on September 8th and a follow-up meeting with Public Service Minister, Eliphas Mukonoweshuro.

According to Ndlovu they have also been directed to present their grievances to the National Joint Negotiating Council, which operates under the Public Service Ministry. He said; “We hope at that meeting we should be able to reach an understanding.”

ZIMTA is demanding a salary increase, up from about US$150 a month to US$500, however the government has said this is beyond its means. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was quoted this week saying teachers should stop their industrial action as there was no way government could cede to their demands, as it is broke. Reports quoted the PM addressing a stakeholders’ briefing at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic College saying the teachers “cannot squeeze blood out of a stone.”
Tsvangirai is also quoted saying: “We are all earning the same amount and I believe the decision by teachers to go on strike was a bad proposition.”

Ndlovu believes the crisis in their sector is not about the government’s lack of resources, but about misplaced priorities. He told SW Radio Africa on Friday: “We have identified areas of wastage where we think government has had its priorities wrong and areas where we think they can channel some of the resources to education.”

Since the formation of the coalition government, the authorities have been criticised for spending much needed money on buying expensive vehicles for officials and extensive globetrotting, at a time when it should be streamlining all expenditure to set an example that the new government was going to be different to the old.

Ndlovu insists the teachers are aware of the government’s economic crisis, but are asking for their salaries to be increased progressively towards the poverty datum line, which at present is $502.

ZimDiaspora.com
By Correspondent
11the September 2009

Desperates parents at some schools in Zimbabwe’s second largest city Bulawayo have resolved to give teachers “incentives” so that they conduct lessons as the strike called by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association continues.

The teachers’ strike which comes barely a week after The Zim Diaspora revealed that Mr Mugabe was paying “green bombers” wages equivalent to those of teachers and nurses. The unending strike has crippled the country’s education system which at some point was arguably the best in the African continent..

Worried that the strike was negatively affecting their children, especially those sitting for public examinations which start next month, some parents through the School Development Associations and Parent Teachers Associations have come up with incentives to enable teachers to conduct lessons.

Parents at schools such as Henry Low Primary School, Kumalo Primary School, Robert Tredgold Primary School and Hillside Junior School are either giving cash incentives or groceries to teachers to urge them to report for duty.

Teachers at Kumalo Primary School have not been teaching since Zimta called for a strike at the beginning of the term, but the parents held a meeting with them yesterday and urged them to return to work, promising to pay a US$6 incentive per child per month.

The money will go towards “cushioning” teachers.

“We agreed that the teachers should report to work on Friday so that lessons resume,” said a parent who attended the meeting.

At Henry Low Primary School in Greenhill some well-wishers are giving teachers groceries, as a way of cushioning them.

The school was not affected by last year’s strike and has also not been affected this term after parents intervened to ensure that their children got education.

Most schools in the high-density suburbs are not conducting lessons although church-run schools such as St Colombas High School and St Patrick’s Primary School in Makokoba are running smoothly after teachers and parents reached an understanding.

Teachers at Inzwananzi Primary School in Luveve are also reporting for duty as they are getting incentives from parents.

There are no lessons being conducted at a majority of schools in high-density suburbs, as teachers are not reporting for duty.

Some teachers are also reportedly demanding money from pupils so that they conduct lessons.

A number of teachers have resorted to holding private lessons at their homes where they are making a killing from desperate pupils especially those writing their Ordinary Levels and Advanced Levels this year.

Most of the pupils are not adequately prepared because teachers spent the better part of last year on strike.

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart is on record saying parents can give incentives to teachers through the School Development Associations although they are not allowed to demand incentives from parents.

Radiovop.com
10th September 2009

Gwanda, September 10, 2009 – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Wednesday there was no need for teachers to continue with their industrial action as there was no way government would cede to their demands as it is broke.

Addressing a stakeholder briefing at Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic Tsvangirai said the teachers “cannot squeeze blood out of a stone”.

He said the country had a debt of US $5 billion and needed at least US $200 million monthly to respond to government’s needs. “We are all earning the same amount and I believe the decision by teachers to go on strike was a bad proposition”, he said.

Tsvangirai said civil servants salaries could only be increased when the economy stabilized. “When things improve the salaries will also improve”, added the Prime Minister.

A meeting between the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) ended in deadlock Tuesday.

Teachers went on strike when schools opened for the third term on September 02 demanding a review of their salaries.

Most rural schools in Matabeleland South have since closed with pupils being told they will be recalled when the things normalize.

ZIMTA, which commands a large following, has proposed government re-introduces the US$100 allowance and gradually increase the basic salary to US$500 by year end.

The strike could disrupt public examinations set for next month.

VOA
By Sithandekile Mhlanga
Washington
09 September 2009

The government says it is continuing its efforts to engage in talks with leaders of teachers’ organisations in the country to bring to an end a strike which has brought learning in some schools to a standstill.

Teachers affiliated to the progressive teachers’ union of Zimbabwe are striking two days every week, while their colleagues under the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association have downed tools completely, seeking a salary hike.

Education Minister David Coltart says he hopes the talks will be fruitful so teachers can go back to the classrooms.

The Herald
9 September 2009

Harare — The Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe yesterday accused their rival Zimbabwe Teachers Association of taking teachers for a ride to gain political mileage.

The two bodies boycotted a meeting with Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart organised by Zimta, saying their rival had abandoned teachers’ grievances for politics.

Minister Coltart had to juggle between a conference room where representatives of PTUZ and TUZ sat and his office where Zimta representatives were waiting for him.

This came as teachers at schools in high and medium density suburbs boycotted lessons, heeding a Zimta call to go on strike. Minister Coltart had called on the three teachers unions to discuss salary grievances and working conditions.

Zimta called for a national strike last week after it failed to agree with the ministry on salary adjustments. In an interview yesterday, Minister Coltart said he would engage the other two unions today and take the issue to Cabinet.

“I am leaving no stone unturned because the children are the ones who are suffering, particularly now when they are approaching national examinations due next month.

“We had a productive meeting and I have undertaken to raise the issues in Cabinet and will be reporting to the unions of the resolutions. I have also explained the difficulties that the Government is facing. “I intend to meet them (PUTZ and TUZ) tomorrow (today) and discuss the issue that we discussed with Zimta,” he said.

He promised to deal with the unions fairly and transparently and hoped the unions would also reach a consensus among themselves for the good of the children.

Zimta secretary general Richard Gundane said the association had met with the ministry and highlighted their concerns.

“Issues raised include improvement of the basic salary and the introduction of allowances, teachers who want to come back through the window of amnesty and the incentives. We feel the burden of incentives should be removed from parents. The issues are supposed to be discussed in further meetings,” he said.

A survey by The Herald showed teachers did not attend lessons at most Government schools in Kuwadzana, Glen Norah, Glen View, Highfield , Mbare and in a number of schools in Chitungwiza.
Minister Coltart said the situation was the same at schools in Bulawayo where he said teachers were reporting for duty but not conducting lessons. Some teachers took the opportunity to conduct private and extra lessons for a fee.

However, at Glen View 1 High School, teachers were conducting lessons while at Glen View 1 Primary School half of the about 40 teachers were working while the others did not report for duty. Pupils said some teachers were asking for between US$1 and US$3 to conduct extra lessons a week.

Some parents have vowed not to pay, saying teachers were exploiting the situation to fleece them of their money.

The Chronicle
Chronicle Reporter
9th September 2009

THE much awaited meeting between the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) ended in deadlock with either party refusing to give in.

In a telephone interview from Harare last night, Minister Coltart said the leaders of ZIMTA refused to call for the end of the strike while negotiations continued.

However, he described the meeting, which was reportedly boycotted by other teachers’ unions, the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (TUZ) as “productive and constructive”.

The teachers’ unions have issued conflicting statements concerning the strike with PTUZ and TUZ saying teachers should go back to work while ZIMTA has been against the idea.

“When people sit down to negotiate there are bound to be differences, we also had our differences. However, I would like to say that the meeting was fruitful as we made a number of resolutions that would be the starting point in our next meeting,” said Minister Coltart.

He could not be drawn into revealing the resolutions. “At the moment I cannot say much as it could jeopardise the negotiations,” said Minister Coltart.

He said he would table the resolutions at a Cabinet meeting as well as discuss the outcome of the meeting with the Ministers of Finance, Tendai Biti and that of Public Service Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro.

“It would be taken to Cabinet to inform it of the progress that was made during today’s meeting as this would help in making informed decisions as you know that the Government through the Finance Ministry has announced that it has limited financial resources,” said Minister Coltart.

“I believe it would be of paramount importance that Cabinet sits down and deliberate on the resolutions in earnest so that teachers go back to work especially taking into consideration that we are fast approaching the November public examinations period.”

ZIMTA leaders could not be reached for comment last night.

The teachers went on strike when schools opened for the third term on 2 September demanding a review of their salaries and other working conditions. Teachers like most civil servants are earning an average of $155.

ZIMTA, the largest teacher organisation, has proposed that Government re-introduce US$100 allowance and progressively increase the basic salary until it reaches US$500 by December.

In Bulawayo learning has not been taking place with gates at some schools locked.On Monday parents with children at Bulawayo schools said the on-going strike was an indication that the educators were insensitive to the plight of children.

Meanwhile, most schools and examination centres in Bulawayo have stopped registering candidates for the November public examinations despite the fact that the deadline is Friday thereby leaving many students in a quandary.

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) set this Friday as the deadline for registration but most examination centres in the city stopped the registration exercise on Monday while others stopped yesterday.

Officials from ZIMSEC’s Bulawayo office however told Chronicle that the deadline for payment had not been brought forward.

“The closing date is 11 September, which is Friday. Nothing has changed,” said an official who requested anonymity saying he was not allowed to speak to the Press.

A few examination centres, among them Founders High School, Zimbabwe Distance Education College and Foundation College were still registering candidates yesterday.

“I had to run around to pay the examination fees for my daughter at Townsend High School because the school authorities had set 7 September as the deadline for paying whereas I had budgeted for 11 September. The authorities told me that 11 September was the deadline for the registration papers to reach the ZIMSEC offices, so I had to run around,” said Mrs Miriam Moyo.

A lot of parents were running around this week trying to raise examination fees for their children after realising that a majority of examination centres wanted candidates to be registered early.

This reporter saw several pupils from Foundation College, as well as some external candidates, queuing at the college’s main offices along Herbert Chitepo begging to be registered after 2pm which was the centre’s deadline.

Officials at the schools said they had pushed forward the deadline in order for them to have time to check whether all the candidates had been properly registered while also ensuring that there was adequate time for the registration papers to reach the ZIMSEC offices in Harare.

ZIMSEC set examination at $10 per subject for O-Level candidates and $20 for those sitting for Advanced Levels.

VOA
By Sandra Nyaira
Washington
07 September 2009

Classes went ahead in some of Zimbabwe’s schools on Monday despite a widespread strike by teachers depending on the union affiliation of educators and school administrators, sources said.

School heads with ties to the Zimbabwe Teachers Association were said to be turning away pupils, while classes were going ahead at institutions where the main labor affiliation of teachers and administrators was with the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, the sources said.

Teachers Association Acting Chief Executive Officer Sifiso Ndlovu told reporter Sandra Nyaira of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that members of his organization would not return to to work until the government made a satisfactory response to their demand for a large increase in teacher salaries.
Teachers now receive about US$150 a month; ZIMTA is demanding US$700 a month.

Progressive Teachers Union President Takavafira Zhou accused ZIMTA of misleading teachers, adding that it is embarrassing that Zimbabwe’s teachers cannot speak with one voice.

He added that a South African group has invited both unions to a meeting Sept. 17 in that country aimed at bringing about the unification of the two organizations representing Zimbabwe’s teachers.

In years past, ZIMTA was considered more responsive to the ZANU-PF government of President Robert Mugabe, while now the PTUZ is seen as more closely aligned to the Movement for Democratic Change side of the unity government of MDC founders Morgan Tsvangirai and David Coltart, today Prime Minister and Education Minister respectively.

Daily Nation (Kenya)
7 September 2009

Harare — The fault lines between Zimbabwe’s political parties are causing disruption at the opening of the third term in public schools, continuing years of decline in a sector once regarded as sub-Saharan Africa’s finest.

It was hoped the formation of the unity government in February 2009 would resurrect the ailing schooling system, but lack of finance, teacher shortages and political spats between teachers’ unions are stalling the sector’s recovery.

The country ditched its own currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, to tame rampant hyperinflation. In a bid to revitalize public services, employees across the board are paid a similar wage in US dollars, which was initially welcomed but has since been derided as paltry by recipients.

The 40,000-member Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), seen as having strong ties to President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, is calling for a national strike, which some teachers are already heeding. The union said the current US$140 salary was inadequate and has demanded a US$500 monthly wage.

The usually militant Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), aligned to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is urging its 20,000 members to refrain from strike action.

“Our position as PTUZ is that the government has no money; going on strike now would not solve anything because there just isn’t any. So what we are saying is that teachers are not going on strike – we are in talks with the ministers responsible for education and finance, and we believe that something positive is going to come out of those deliberations.”

A teacher at a public school in the capital, Harare, told IRIN: “We are getting tired and confused by conflicting statements from our union leaders, and we get the feeling that we are being used in political games.”

The allocation of portfolios in the unity government gave the MDC responsibility for many of the social services ministries, while ZANU-PF maintained their grip on the security ministries.

Western donors have adopted a wait-and-see approach to Zimbabwe’s unity government as they are deeply uncertain of the extent of ZANU-PF’s commitment to democracy, so billions of dollars of support remain on hold.

David Coltart, Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, and a member of the MDC formation led by deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutumbara, has called on teachers to appreciate the country’s precarious financial situation and the importance of the third term to pupils.

“I would like to appeal to the teachers to return to school because the third term is quite crucial … public examinations like the Ordinary and Advanced Levels are just round the corner,” he said.

Teachers already not teaching

ZIMTA secretary-general Richard Gundani told IRIN: “It is actually not possible for teachers to continue because of inadequate incomes. We have done our assessments and established that a large number of teachers are not teaching – the few teachers still at work are in affluent suburbs, where parents and guardians have offered them extra incentives.”

Secretary-general of the MDC, Tendai Biti, who, as Zimbabwe’s finance minister is also responsible for coordinating the payment of public servants, told the state-controlled daily newspaper, The Herald, that the unity government could not afford any wage increases.

“Unless there is a dramatic improvement in the economy and revenue improves by 300 percent we have no extra fiscal space for a salary increment at the moment; there is no money, and government is currently operating on a cash budget.”

He said the unity government had realized its largest revenue so far in July 2009, but the bulk of it went towards paying the country’s 236,000 public servants.

“We paid around US$52 million for civil servants’ salaries and the rest has gone to the hospitals for drugs, the various embassies across the world, food, and inputs for agricultural activities, among other expenses.”

The Herald
5 September 2009

Government, teachers’ unions and a United Nations agency are engaged in negotiations to come up with acceptable incentives and conditions of service for schoolteachers.

The three parties yesterday confirmed the ongoing negotiations, but declined to divulge more details on what exactly was being offered to teachers.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe gave the first indication that a deal was in the offing when he made the revelations to cool down the tempers of teachers who had gathered at Harare’s Raylton Sports Club where they were scheduled to meet Education, Arts, Sport and Culture Minister David Coltart and his Finance counterpart Tendai Biti.

The two ministers failed to attend the meeting – at which they were supposed to explain Government’s position on the teachers’ grievances over working conditions — thereby angering the educators who were only pacified when Mr Majongwe said negotiations with the United Nations Children’s Fund were advancing.

However, Mr Majongwe gave the impression that a deal had already been reached and teachers would soon start accessing the cash and kind incentives.

Mr Majongwe said the UN agency had pledged to give each teacher up to US$150 for school fees for their own children as well as provide them with a monthly food hamper, among other incentives.

Minister Coltart and Unicef yesterday both denied these claims, though they indicated negotiations for some sort of package were ongoing.

Unicef communications officer Ms Tsitsi Singizi said the organisation had been approached by the three teachers’ unions – the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association, the Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe and PTUZ.

“Support to the education sector is one of Unicef’s highest priorities and we recognise the role of teachers and their unions as a critical component of the education system in the country.

“Unicef has, indeed, been approached by the Ministry of Education, Arts, Sport and Culture to consider a request to support the capacity of all three unions.

“We are awaiting the specifics of this request and then we will give them the serious consideration this deserves,” she said.

Minister Coltart said while he was not aware of the support Mr Majongwe claimed had been given to teachers, he had made recommendations to Unicef that they provide funding for the unions given the difficulties that were being faced by their members.

“I made the proposal when I took office for Unicef to assist the unions that were facing collapse since contributions from their members were inadequate.

“The issue of incentives is one that I have raised with donors, although most have indicated that they are not prepared to provide budgetary support that would improve the plight of the teachers,” he said.

Mr Majongwe, whose organisation is urging its members not to take part in the industrial action called for by Zimta, claimed that Unicef had already provided US$40 000 to each of the three teachers’ unions.

He said the UN agency would also buy bicycles for rural teachers with US$500 000 having already been set aside for that purpose.

“Last week all the three organisations were given US$121 000 to support the unions and it was divided equally.

“You can go and ask them (other unions) if they did not receive that money.

“We were also given US$500 000 for bicycles and we agreed that the distribution would be staggered with first

preference being given to those in rural areas,” he said.

Mr Majongwe added that Unicef would also pay school fees for one child of each teacher in the country.

“At the moment, they have agreed to support a single child for each teacher and they will provide US$50 if the child is in primary school, US$100 if the child is in secondary school and US$150 for one who is at tertiary level,” he said.

TUZ chief executive officer Mr Manuel Nyawo yesterday refuted Mr Majongwe’s claims.

“What (Mr) Majongwe is saying is cause for concern to us. We know him pushing relentlessly for the concerns of teachers, so what has happened to him now?

“We are unaware of that development. We do not have that money. What I know is that proposals have been presented and the meetings we have had have not produced anything so far,” he said.

He refuted suggestions that his union was against the teachers’ industrial action.

“We have been on strike since May 27 and we are happy that our colleagues in Zimta have decided to join us,” he said.

He added that he hoped Ministers Coltart and Biti in their negotiations with donors would not place political manoeuvring above the need to improve conditions for the civil and uniformed services.

Zimta secretary-general Mr Richard Gundani also denied receiving any funding from the UN agency, but confirmed negotiations were in progress.

“We did not get anything from Unicef. There is nothing like that. What has happened is that we have always engaged Unicef and other donors for support,” said Mr Gundani.

However, Mr Majongwe insisted that Unicef had given them money and would also provide buses to ferry teachers in rural areas to urban centres during paydays so that they could access their money quicker.

“It’s not proper as trade unions to call for strikes at a time we have entered a deal with Unicef to provide a package for our members

“We have received money that will help the teachers to cater for their children’s fees. The organisation has also pledged to provide each district with a bus that will be used to ferry teachers during paydays,” he said.

Zimta and TUZ have called on their members to go on strike this term, arguing that they want their salaries increased from the current US$150 to about US$400.

Last week, Minister Biti said Government could not afford an increment at present because of still suppressed revenue inflows.

Nehanda Radio
5 September 2009
By Never Kadungure

Are they on strike or not, that is the question?

Zimbabwe’s two teachers unions, ZIMTA and the PTUZ gave conflicting signals on whether teachers should go on strike pressing for bettter salaries.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) which is the bigger union urged its members to go on strike while the Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ) said they should report for duty.

“We are saying teachers are not going on strike. We believe that the two responsible ministers understand us and so we believe something positive will come out of the meeting we have with them on Friday,” said PTUZ secretary-general, Raymond Majongwe.

MDC-M senator David Coltart heads the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Ministry while Zanu PF’s Stan Mudenge is in charge of the Higher and Tertiary Education Ministry.

Teachers in the low density areas reported for duty while those in the high density areas did not. An average teacher is earning US$140 and they want this raised to US$700 per month.

“Teachers are definitely striking and today (Wednesday) has largely been a day for regrouping as most of our teachers who turned up for work have been told to go back home. The Ministry of Finance should do something about (the) salaries before they (teachers) can go back to work,” said Sifiso Ndlovu, the acting ZIMTA chief executive.

“We got an overwhelming response from teachers nationwide. Teachers heeded the call and rural teachers have not gone to work at all. In urban areas, by 10am, most schools had closed down,” added Ndlovu.