-unions issue 5 day ultimutum
Roseline Mutare
Educators are up in arms against the government for its failure to pay their bonuses and salaries in November as per agreement.

Teachers only received their USD component of their salaries and bonuses but they did not get the ZwG as per the promise by the employer who only fully paid other civil servants including uniformed forces leaving them in the cold.
“The failure to pay what is rightfully ours feels like a devaluation of our efforts, morale, and dignity as educators and public servants. It signals a lack of recognition for the vital services we render to society” said Zimbabwe Teachers Association president Akuneni Maphosa in a press release on Tuesday.

He urged the Government to quickly disburse the money without delay, to offer an official explanation on the omission and assure them that such a thing will not happen in future and to engage in dialogue in good faith.
Efforts to get a comment from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube were unsuccessful as his mobile went unanswered, a PA in his office who identified herself as Makonese referred this reporter to Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga’s PA a Mr Mbambe whose landline was not getting through.
Guvamatanga was not picking up calls on his cellphone.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, Dr Takavafira Zhou, expressed outrage over the government’s decision, saying it was a clear indication of their lack of commitment to the welfare of teachers.
“It is sad that the bonus is being given in bits and pieces. Teachers were supposed to get their pay and bonus in November, but the government has failed to deliver. This is heaping burning coals upon the heads of poorly paid teachers,” Zhou said.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) spokesperson, Thembakhuye Moyo, echoed similar sentiments, saying the government’s failure to pay teachers their salaries and bonuses in full had rendered the bonuses useless as inflation is eating into the salaries.
“As ARTUZ, we are very angry. Our members had expected the said bonus, but the government has failed to pay teachers their salaries, which automatically renders the said bonus to zero. We demand accountability and astuteness from the government. Teachers are saying no pay, no work. Furthermore, we reiterate our demand for a basic salary of US$1 260 for teachers, as the current salaries are woefully inadequate,” Moyo said.
” The government’s promise to make frantic efforts to ensure that teachers access their money has yielded nothing, with many teachers still unable to access their salaries and bonuses despite a seven-day wait,” he added.
The non-payment of salaries and bonuses to teachers has sparked fears of a nationwide strike, with teachers vowing to down tools until their demands are met.
“Should this issue remain unresolved within five days we reserve the right to escalate the matter through appropriate channels, including seeking legal recourse or considering collective action,” added Maphosa.