Teachers demand salary increase in 7 days
By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 04, 2007

The lack of adequate funds for transportation is affecting the majority of civil servants in Zimbabwe. With nurses and doctors failing to report for duty in the last few weeks, teachers have now said the salaries they received last month are already spent and they will not be able to go to work unless they get the increments they were awarded last week, within the next seven days. Raymond Majongwe, president of The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), said three quarters of all teachers, not just the members of the PTUZ, were not reporting for duty because they do not have enough money. Expressing concern for students who have no teachers, Majongwe said: “We need to safeguard the rights of these children who are being affected. But our members are saying how we can we do that.”

As we reported, bus fares were increased to shocking levels last week. A trip to Harare’s central business district from Chitungwiza now costs Z$30,000, up from Z$7,000. Other local trips went from Z$5,000 to Z$15,000. With salaries staying the same for most people, a trip to work means long journeys on foot or bicycles. The teachers say they are demanding their new pay to cover transport expenses and other basic necessities.

Teachers were awarded a 600% salary increase just last week but the majority are already failing to travel to work. In an environment where inflation is officially pegged at 3 700%, the new salaries will also not be enough in just a few weeks. Independent analysts say that inflation is actually over 5,000%. Asked how salaries can keep up with this Majongwe said they were supposed to be reviewed quarterly. Explaining further he said: “According to the budget statement that was given in November last year, it was made very clear that civil servants were going to get quarterly reviews. We have just gotten our second quarterly review and in July we expect another increment because this is what was promised by government, in their own budget presentation. This includes soldiers and police as well.”