The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) has reiterated its demand for USD$840 salaries for its members.
ZIMTA Secretary General Goodwill Taderera said they have already submitted a position paper to the Government outlining their expectations. Said Taderera:
<blockquote>
We are still demanding a meaningful salary increase for teachers and this demand is on our agenda this month. According to a position paper which has already been tabled to government, a sum of USD$840 must be the entry level salary for a qualified teacher.
</blockquote>
He said teachers expect to be awarded salaries that align with their profession, their qualifications, their experiences and the workload.
Taderera said that the US$20 salary increment granted to civil servants fell significantly short and not enough to cover their basic needs. He said:
<blockquote>
Our demand is also, as per our last negotiations where the government, of course, gave us $20.00 and on the part of teachers $39.00 payable in RTGS but still, we thought that this was a mockery on our part and because of that we think that the government should be serious going forward to give us something quite meaningful.
A salary increase of $20.00 is just about nothing to take home, a salary increase of $ 39 RTGS which they are now calling Zimbabwean Gold (ZiG) again is just about nothing to take home about considering the inflationary pressures that are there and the cost of living that is also prevailing within the economy
</blockquote>
The Government recently raised civil servants’ salaries to US$320, up from US$300, and indexed the Zimbabwe dollar component to the prevailing official exchange rate.
The National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) is expected to meet this month where ZIMTA plans to table its demands.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZIMTA Makes Fresh Demand For Teachers' Salaries

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has called upon the government to increase teachers’ salaries saying they were supposed to be getting a salary of US$1000, but they have been receiving less than half of that amount. The association is calling on the government to increase teachers’ salaries to at least US$700 to improve their living standards.
ZIMTA’s secretary-general, Goodwill Taderera, told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200021104/teachers-demand-us700-salary">NewsDay</a> that this demand is in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s promise to improve teachers’ welfare. Taderera stated:
<blockquote>
Right now, we know that we are supposed to be getting upwards US$1,000, but teachers have not been able to get even half of that.
We hope that this time around, the government will meaningfully improve our salaries by giving us at least US$700.
Our last proposal was US$800 and we appreciate how the government involves us during social dialogue. We hope the government (continues) to prioritise social dialogue that will yield positive results.
</blockquote>
Taderera also highlighted the need for non-monetary incentives, which have been discussed but have not been implemented. He stressed that paying salaries in US dollars would be the best approach. He added that ZIMTA has written to the government, requesting a seat at the negotiating table, but they have not received a response.
Since 2019, teachers, doctors, nurses, and other government workers have periodically gone on strike to demand that the government restore their salaries to the levels they were before October 2018, which were around US$500. The government started paying salaries in Zimbabwean dollars after the reintroduction of the local currency in June 2019. Initially, authorities claimed that the Zimbabwe dollar was equal to the US dollar. However, over time, the value of the local currency decreased, leading to a decline in workers’ salaries. As a result, some workers chose to resign and seek better job opportunities abroad.
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"We Know We Are Supposed To Be Getting US$1,000" - Teachers

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZTA) secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said that the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) 2022 Ordinary Level examinations should be rewritten to preserve the credibility of the examinations.
ZIMSEC told Parliament last year that about 590 suspects were caught cheating while sitting for November 2022 Ordinary and Advanced Level final examinations.
Speaking to NewsDay, Taderera said ZIMSEC should arrange for the examinations to be rewritten in order to address the widespread leakage. Said Taderera:
<blockquote>
Everything is falling apart now. We have always red-flagged the ZIMSEC malpractices.
It has actually been going on for years. We have heard learners doing 20 subjects with flying colours and we have been suspicious.
Now this year, we had evidence of learners who had access to the papers before they sat for the examination.
That was enough reason for ZIMSEC to arrange for rewriting of the examinations to restore its integrity as an examinations body.
Rewriting is the only fair way to address the malpractice.
</blockquote>
However, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education chairperson Torerai Moyo, said it is too late for ZIMSEC to run a rewrite. Moyo said:
<blockquote>
ZIMSEC is investigating the leakages through the marking process which would determine the extent of the cheating.
If there is a pattern of uniformity in the answers by pupils, as reported by the examiners, then there is proof of cheating. But I think it is too late for ZIMSEC to run a rewrite.
The bottom line is ZIMSEC should be accountable for how it runs the examinations.
One way is to amend the Act that governs how examinations are run to give room for stiffer penalties for cheating.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005729/zimsec-marking-schemes-leaked-before-exams">NewsDay</a>

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