SW Radio Africa
By Lance Guma
10 July 2009

Over 200 teachers under the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) took to the streets of Masvingo Friday morning, demonstrating for a review of their US$100 allowances. Earlier in the week the PTUZ called for a class boycott beginning July 10 and this is to be repeated next week on the 17th July. President Takavafira Zhou said the campaign was code-named Operation Friday/Chisi/Inzilo and further boycotts would stretch to the 23rd July if government did not increase their allowances.
On the first day of the campaign Zhou led the group of teachers from the PTUZ offices into the city centre. They took a petition to the provincial offices of the Public Service Commission. For a country accustomed to riot police beating up any protestors it was surprising to see police actually escorting the demonstrating teachers on the streets. The unions want teachers salaries raised from US$100 to US$500 saying this was well in line with figures released by the Central Statistical Office stating that an average family required over US$500 to survive.
Newsreel spoke to the Acting chief executive officer of the larger, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), Sifiso Ndlovu, and he told us their union would only call for a strike at the end of July if government ignored their demands. Ndlovu said they were committed to the process of current negotiations through the National Joint Negotiating Council. He also said they intend to make Education Minister David Coltart and Finance Minister Tendai Biti hold onto their promise that salaries would be reviewed. Ndlovu denied speculation they would demonstrate in the middle of July, before Biti’s budget presentation, to put pressure on government.
The relationship between the coalition government and teachers has been very shaky for the past few months. Two months ago government averted a strike by promising to review teacher’s salaries and offered them incentives, like free education for their children. The slow pace in reviewing the US$100 allowances has however strained relations. PTUZ Secretary General Raymond Majongwe this week lashed out at Biti saying; ‘The minister of Finance is now behaving like we were not together all along. He is behaving like a Catholic priest giving pieces of bread to a woman with closed eyes.’
The government has meanwhile sought to assure teachers that they are engaging the donor community to encourage them to pick up the bill for their salaries. The unions however say such pledges are ‘indefinite and undependable’.

SW Radio Africa
By Lance Guma
9 July 2009

A constitutional conference scheduled to be held this Friday has now been moved to Monday, amid reports of serious bickering within ZANU PF and their last minute bid to have it postponed indefinitely. Newsreel understands several ZANU PF MP’s are complaining that MP’s in the Tsvangirai MDC have ‘hijacked’ the constitution making process. A report in the state owned Herald newspaper quotes some of them claiming that ZANU PF members in the select committee are allowing their MDC colleagues to dominate proceedings. Friday’s convention would have been the first major meeting of all key participants in the constitution making process, but ZANU PF were determined to have it postponed indefinitely we are told.
MP Douglas Mwonzora from the Tsvangirai MDC, Paul Mangwana from ZANU PF and Senator David Coltart from the Mutambara MDC are the chairmen of the special parliamentary committee dealing with the constitution making process. When they met on Tuesday it was reported they had refused to bow down to ZANU PF pressure to move the conference date. What motivated the u-turn is still unclear, but the Zim Online news agency quotes Mwonzora saying ‘having taken into consideration the concerns of ZANU PF and the timeline given in the global political agreement the committee decided to move the conference to Monday.’
ZANU PF is arguing that several issues around logistics and who will attend the convention need to be ironed out. Skeptics believe the move is simply a delaying tactic to frustrate participants in the process. Mwonzora confirmed to journalists that ZANU PF wanted an indefinite postponement of the convention, but his committee refused. After this refusal ZANU PF tried to have the conference moved to the end of July, again Mwonzora’s committee refused to back down, insisting on Monday next week as the date.
‘I don’t understand the strategic importance of a delay. We tried to make sense of it,’ Mwonzora told journalists.
Monday’s convention is expected to see the setting up of committees drawn from all the political parties. To run outreach programmes to get peoples views on the new constitution. But several civil society groups, like the National Constitutional Assembly, are deeply critical of the process saying politicians should not be leading it. Their fears were born out by remarks from Mugabe, who insisted the widely discredited Kariba Draft constitution should be used as a framework for the new constitution. The MDC have already said they will oppose, this despite appending their signature to the Kariba Draft in September 2007. Experts say that draft entrenches the executive powers of the President.

Radiovop
8 July 2009

The Inxusa Cultural Expo will be hosting two VIP Cocktail launches to mark the start of the SADC VIP Road show to promote the event in a ‘Nine SADC Country VIP Road Show’.

The Inxusa Cultural Expo executice pruducer and director Cont Mhlanga said pre launch cocktails will be presented for captains of industry, government officials, embassies, cultural and educational institutions, tourism and travel sector and the official launch of the Cultural Expo on November 21 in Bulawayo while the grand finale of this SADC VIP Road show will be on November 4-5 in Durban South Africa.

The Bulawayo VIP Cocktail event will be held on the 9th of July where the Minister of Education Sport Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart will be guest of honor while in Harare it will be held on the 16th of July. Vice President Mujuru, who is the Patron of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, has confirmed that she will be the guest of honour.

“Inxusa Cultural Expo is a truly SADC event that aims to promote regional integration in all aspects of the economy and social life. It is for this reason that we are promoting the event to all SADC member States to invite partnerships from both private and public sectors of our Sub-Saharan African economy to support the event and buy in,” Mhlanga said.

The Cultural Expo is a four day exhibition event planned in a three year cycle which fall between 17-20 December 2009, 15-18 July 2010 and 28-31 July 2011 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and Exhibition Center.

The regional media campaign of the Inxusa Cultural Expo rolls out on the 9th of July in Bulawayo with the ‘Nine SADC Country VIP Road Show’.

“While the SADC Road Show is on the move a local national road show will start in Masvingo in the last week of July and will visit Zimbabwe’s 10 cities to give the mayor of each town an invitation for their town and community to participate,” said Mhlanga.

New Zimbabwe.com
By Lebo Nkatazo
7 July 2009

ZIMBABWE’S unity government was accused of a “careless squandering of goodwill” last night as teachers threatened a new wave of strikes for better pay.
One union said its members would also stop attending classes every Friday, starting this week, in protest at the alleged harassment of its members by Zanu PF militias.
Both the Progressive Teachers’ Union (PTUZ) and the bigger membership Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) gave the unity government up to the end of this month to swap their monthly US$100 allowances for substantive salaries.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti is expected to announce civil servants will be paid salaries starting this month in his mid-term policy statement on July 16.
But the PTUZ accuses the minister of failing to consult.
PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe said Biti had forgotten they were “together in the struggle”. There was no difference between him and his Zanu PF predecessor Herbert Murerwa, Majongwe charged at a press conference in Harare.
“The minister of Finance is now behaving like we were not together all along. He is behaving like a Catholic priest giving pieces of bread to a woman with closed eyes,” Majongwe said.
ZIMTA took aim at Education Minister David Coltart, dismissing his promises that he will attend to their demands was a “hoax”.
In a statement, the union said a meeting of its national executive committee on June 26 and 27 expressed concern that the review of the teachers’ remuneration was long overdue and that “the much talked about roadmap by Coltart was nothing but a hoax, and a diversionary tactic”.
The union said the government’s engagement of the donor community to pick up the bill for teachers’ salaries was “indefinite and undependable”.

It added: “ZIMRA will call for a nationwide strike if demands are not addressed. This is the last resort should current engagements with authorities fail to yield results this July.
“ZIMTA members have exhausted their patience and will soon find it irresistible to embark on industrial action. The national executive will be unable to restrain the educators’ backlash.”
The unity government says it needs US$8,3 billion over the next three years to stabilise the economy and meet its obligations after a decade-long recession.
Ministers fear a teacher walkout will spark more industrial action by the rest of the 140,000 civil servants who are also paid US$100 allowances monthly.

ZimOnline
By Andrew Moyo
7 July 2009

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s teachers have threatened to go on strike if they do not get a pay rise by month-end, accusing the country’s power-sharing government of duping them in the past with false promises to review their salaries.
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), the largest of two unions representing teachers in the country, vowed not to accept anymore “hoaxes” from the government over salaries and warned of “backlash” from disgruntled teachers that could scuttle the unity administration’s impressive attempts to revive public education.
“The much talked about road map by the Minister of Education was nothing but a hoax, and diversionary tactic, the donor agencies appeal process was indefinite and undependable,” ZIMTA said.
The union was referring to an action plan drawn up by the unity government weeks after its formation and under which the administration undertook to restore basic services such as education and health and get Zimbabwe working again.
While schools and hospitals have reopened, the failure by the unity government – which says it requires a total US$10 billion to get Zimbabwe on its feet again – to convince rich Western nations to release grants and soft loans has hampered its ability to sustain the recovery effort.
A three-week trip to America and Europe by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai managed to lay the foundation for revival of relations with the West but achieved very little in raising aid.
A US$950 loan that China has apparently agreed to give Zimbabwe is not enough to meet the government’s needs and there is no clear indication as to when or whether it will eventually be released to Harare.
Meanwhile, there are increasing clamours from not only teachers but also the rest of the civil service for more pay or they will down tools.
ZIMTA said: “ZIMTA will call for a nationwide strike, if demands are not addressed. This is the last resort should current engagements with authorities fail to yield results this July. ZIMTA members have exhausted their patience and will soon find it irresistible to embark on industrial action.”
Education Minister David Coltart was not immediately available for comment on the matter. Coltart has in the past met teachers’ union leaders to urge them to be patient as the government tries to mobilise resources from donors to improve salaries and working conditions.
The coalition government is seen as offering Zimbabwe the best opportunity in a decade to restore stability and end a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis that had seen the once prosperous country suffer rampant inflation, acute food shortages affecting more than half of the country’s population, record unemployment and deepening poverty.
But skepticism remains on the government’s ability to deliver in the absence of donor support and its long term durability given the animosity and mistrust that persists between Mugabe’s ZANU PF and Tsvangirai’s MDC parties – the main pillars of the administration.

Radiovop
5 July 2009

HURUNGWE- There is been a serious exodus of temporary teachers in Zimbabwe’s Hurungwe rural area following non-payment for the past five months.

The untrained teachers had heeded a call by the government in February and submitted their contract forms at Magunje education offices where they have been gathering dust ever since and were not forwarded to the Salary Service Bureau (SSB).

The various teachers had been deployed in rural schools and were battling to make ends meet.

Teachers in full time employment receive USd 100 allowance from the government which has said it has no money to adequately renumerate them.

Zimbabwe’s coffers are dry following a decade long decay of its economy due to political instability and economic mismanagement. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has just returned from a trip to European Union States and America to raise funds for the country which need about USD 10
billion to revive its economy. Very little, so far has been raised as most countries have demanded a stop to human rights abuses and a return to rule of law before they can committ meaningful support.

Teachers returned to schools when a new unity government was put in place in February following an appeal from Tsvangirai and long discussions with the new Education minister David Coltart who appealed to the teachers to resume work while government sought solutions of how to raise their
salaries.

Schools in Zimbabwe were seriously disrupted last year with teachers attending an average 23 days of work the whole year.

”Initially our contract forms were just for a month until it was reversed to three months covering the whole term and we have been battling to have them submitted to Harare SSB for payment with education officials at Magunje blocking our efforts” said a temporary teacher who has since given
up to remain in the remote area of Kazangarare.

The teachers accused the district education officer Muchineripi Ndewere of not acting on their contract forms with urgency.

Ndewere refused to comment over the issue when contacted referring Radio VOP to provincial education officer Sylvester Mashayamombe who only said, ”Mashonaland West has enough qualified teachers”.

However teachers within Hurungwe gave a different accounts of the reality on the ground with Dete primary school being understaffed by 15 teachers.

”There are many schools that do not have adequate teaching staff but Hurungwe education officers are bungling over the contract forms and this will affect the enrollment of children. It’s unfortunate the officials believe those teachers who went out of the country will return soon with such unprofessionalism at Magunje education offices,” said another frustrated teacher from Mjinga area.

Newsnet
4 July 2009

A statue has been unveiled in honour of one of Zimbabwe’s legendary actors, Safirio Madzikatire, who was better known as Mukadota.

The occasion which was led by Harare Mayor, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda coincided with the opening of the culture fund offices which was witnessed by many artists and government officials.

Minister of Education, Arts, Sport and Culture, Senator David Coltart officially opened the offices.

Senator Coltart applauded the Swedish government for availing funds for buying the Culture Fund Zimbabwe Trust offices.

He said such initiatives allow artists to participate in creating employment as well as contributing to the economic growth of the arts industry.

Board Chairperson of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Mr Luxon Zembe said the development will go a long way in providing a resource centre for artists.

The Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Stan Rylander and some government officials also witnessed the event.

The Standard
By John Mokwetsi
4 July 2009

IT has been a long journey since The Standard newspaper successfully launched the Cover to Cover Short Story Writing Competition in 2006.
The innovative competition showcased amazing talent that provided young people throughout Zimbabwe with an opportunity to develop their writing skills and nurture their talent.
For three years the project has seen the publication of brilliant stories from young people that culminated in the production of an anthology titled Children Writing in Zimbabwe last year.

The book published with the support of The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe, carries 42 stories that showcase the variety, creativity, and expression of young people from diverse backgrounds.

It was therefore befitting that last Wednesday the Culture Fund handed over 2 000 copies of the anthology to the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart for distribution to schools.

The handing over was done at the official opening of the Culture Fund offices.

“I take note of the donation of these books. I am grateful. It is saddening when one looks at the situation in terms of availability of books. There is a terrible shortage of textbooks in the country,” Coltart said after receiving the books.

“At rural schools the ratio of students sharing textbooks is 30-1 while in urban areas it is mostly 15-1 or 20 – 1.”

The executive director of Culture Fund of Zimbabwe, Farai Mpfunya said although there was a wealth of literature from all over the world by young people it was not a substitute for locally produced literature.

“To date 3 000 books have been distributed in the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe to schools, universities and local libraries at no charge in a bid to promote the reading and writing culture,” Mpfunya said.

The function was attended by top personalities such as Albert Nyathi, Oliver Mtukudzi, acting director of the National Arts Council, Elvas Mari, Harare mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda and the wife of the late comedian and musician, Safirio Madzikatire, Ntongasi.

Swedish Ambassador, Sten Rylander whose country is the largest donor to the fund said its impact in the country’s arts sector was growing.

The Culture Fund is a non-partisan civic society organisation established and registered as a Trust in June 2006.

Its establishment came as a result of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and stakeholders’ desire to address inconsistent funding of the Culture sector in Zimbabwe.

The Herald
By Innocent Ruwende
3 July 2009

TEACHERS threatening to strike over unfulfilled pay promises have been told that civil servants are likely to get proper salaries when Finance Minister Tendai Biti presents the mid-term fiscal policy on July 16.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart told representatives of teachers at a meeting on Wednes-day that the Government was working to address their salaries and working conditions and those of other civil servants.

The announcement was expected in the mid-term fiscal policy review.

In an interview, Minister Coltart said he had received notices from teachers unions’, among them the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association and Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, threatening to go on strike if the Government does not start paying them salaries.

At the moment, all civil servants are getting a US$100 monthly allowance.

“We told them that Government was aware of their concerns and it realises that the US$100 allowance teachers are getting was not adequate and did not recognise their professional qualifications.

“Finance Minister Tendai Biti is running around to secure money to pay their salaries as well as those of other civil servants. I am hopeful that we will be able to address their concerns and those of other civil servants but it will depend on the amount of money coming into the fiscus,” Minister Coltart said.

But Zimta yesterday expressed frustration over unfulfilled pay promises and said it had twice restrained its members from striking but was now being left with no option.

“The National Executive Committee met on 26-27 June 2009 in Harare to deliberate, among other issues, concerns from members about the remuneration levels.

“The general membership was concerned that the review of the educators’ remuneration was long overdue, the much talked about roadmap by the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture was nothing but a hoax, and diversionary tactic, the donor agencies appeal process was indefinite and undependable, and the SDA/SDC school-based incentives were not a substitute to educators’ salary right.

“The sum of the concerns was that educators remained prisoners of hope as no real progress has been realised,” Zimta said in a statement.

Minister Biti’s mid-term fiscal policy on July 16 comes amid reports that revenue from taxes has risen substantially. Last month Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Commissioner-General Mr Gershom Pasi said Zimra had collected US$100 million in taxes and hoped the figure would keep rising.

Minister Coltart said at the moment Government had limited ability but he was very optimistic that teachers and all civil servants’ concerns would be addressed soon since there were indications that the economy was stabilising.

“My appeal to teachers is that they should recognise we are working under difficult circumstances to seek funds for their salaries so they should bear with Government during these hard times.

“When we get revenue into Government coffers I am sure we will be able to deal with their salary concerns,” he said.

Last week, a group of more than 70 teachers marched in Harare and presented a petition to Minister Coltart demanding an urgent address of their working conditions and salaries.

Minister Coltart has said the country’s education sector requires at least US$100 million to re-equip schools with textbooks and pay teachers’ sala- ries.

In May, Government held a crisis meeting with teachers’ unions over the salary issue after they had decided not to report for work when the second term began.

The Government, through the United Nations, has since sent an appeal to western donors and western governments for financial aid to revive the country’s education system.