Bhekizulu Sibanda (12/01/10)

“A strike is something that is intended to achieve something at the end of the day, currently it would be futile to go on strike as this will not change anything, the fact of the matter is that the government is broke.”

These were the words of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe refusing to join a strike called for by ZIMTA in the third term of 2009.

He reiterated that his organization would not go on strike because they understood the current status of the economy in the country – such hypocrisy!

Ironically, three months down the line, PTUZ is calling on its membership to down tools when the school term starts on Tuesday 12 January 2010.

Majongwe who purports to understand the financial standing of the government is surprisingly demanding that teachers get US $600 per month. With an estimated total of 90 000 teachers in the public service, this translates to $54 million per month multiplied by thirteen months to include bonus it translates to US $648 million per annum against a budgeted total of US $600 million for the whole civil service.

Their demand therefore falls away unless of course, he is privy to information that the Finance Ministry has received a windfall.

The advent of the inclusive government saw the PTUZ taking a sympathetic approach towards the government and refusing to engage in industrial action on the understanding that the government did not have money.

It therefore comes as a surprise why only three months down the line PTUZ is demanding that government pays their members US $600?

The only logical conclusion is that PTUZ gets paid to make noise. They were paid to demonstrate against the ZANU (PF) government before the inclusive government as part of the regime change agenda.

With the advent of MDC in government, it has become futile for PTUZ to strike and is now being paid to pacify teachers so that the likes of Coltart and Mukonoweshuro are not embarrassed by endless strikes.

One is there forgiven to conclude that PTUZ demands are not sincere but a cry for attention from their handlers.

The only reason they are threatening to strike whilst making unattainable demands is because they are calling for attention from their handlers who may have forgotten the kickback.

How else can you explain someone refusing to strike over a US $500 demand on the understanding that government is facing a financial crisis only to come back two months down the line threatening to strike demanding US $600?

It is an open secret that PTUZ is considered MDC-T friendly without doubt and it would appear PTUZ has abused the union to fight power dynamics along political lines. It is without doubt that PTUZ used its position to portray the ZANU (PF) government as having failed to adequately address the plight of teachers.

This is the same Union, which always had running battles with the Government prior to the Inclusive government purporting to be representing teacher’s rights.

Without taking anything away from teachers demands, these should fall along reasonable amounts otherwise they will never be taken seriously. The state of the economy is common knowledge to all and sundry and an increase that goes beyond 400% is wishful thinking

The Ministry of Education has to be very decisive before this cancer spreads to other government departments who also fall within the category of public service.

Unfortunately decisiveness is a virtue, which the Minister does not have. Only last year he announced that the incentives were a temporary measure and would be dropped as parents in rural schools are failing to pay levies resulting in the teacher not receiving incentives – such hypocrisy!

Two months down the line Coltart announces that schools will continue paying teachers incentives so that they stay motivated to do their work. What happened to the rural teachers theory?

Like one writer asked does Hon Coltart honestly believe that retention of teachers is the responsibility of parents instead of the teachers employer?

It is government role to remain committed to ensuring that education remains accessible to every child. We read of pass rates falling, more children dropping out of school and what has been the response by the government.? Is the education system still the best in Africa if not, where did we go wrong and what is being done towards rectifying this?

I still think it is not the prerogative of the parents to be paying teachers extras to do their job. Like every body else operating in public sector who is making do with out, teachers should be no exception.