Teachers to confront mnangagwa regime over poor salaries

Zimbabwean teachers are signalling a firm stand against the government over stagnant wages and deteriorating working conditions, warning that they are ready to escalate their actions if their demands continue to be ignored.

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) expressed its full backing for the resolutions recently adopted by the Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Unions (FOZEU), stating that educators nationwide are being pushed to the edge by meagre pay, unsafe classrooms, and a crumbling education system.

In a statement released on Sunday, 07 September, ARTUZ reiterated its call for a living wage of US$1,260, improved school resources, and full recognition of teachers’ labour rights. The union said the FOZEU resolutions represent a united front in defending both teachers’ rights and the broader right to education.

Proposed measures include opening schools while staging sit-ins to show that teachers are present but cannot perform effectively under unfair pay, participating in strikes coordinated by FOZEU, and preparing for an indefinite industrial action through school visits and grassroots mobilisation.

Unions also agreed to meet again to fix a date for the indefinite strike and to establish district-level committees to enhance coordination and solidarity among teachers.

ARTUZ accused the government of disregarding the education sector, asserting that “an attack on teachers is an attack on the future of our children and the nation.” The union urged educators to unite under FOZEU’s leadership, insisting that only collective action can safeguard their dignity, secure their rights, and prevent further deterioration of Zimbabwe’s education system