Teachers reject US$100 “pittance”

Zimbabwean teachers rejected the US$100″pittance” from the government and have vowed not to return to work.
Teachers have not been reporting for duty since last year saying that their salaries where not enough to meet basic transport costs.
The new inclusive government finance minister Tendai Biti announced on Wednesday that civil servants could now redeem coupons they had been given into cash at designated banks.
Biti said from March the civil servants will receive allowances directly into their bank accounts and will not receive coupons.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe said it would be naive for teachers to accept the US$100 when they have been asking for US$2500 each.
“We will not accept that pittance. Ii we are to accept US100 when we have been asking for US$2500 it will be naivety of the highest order. We will not go back to work under such circumstances,” said Majongwe.
“Teachers have been going on empty stomachs since last year. Schools have not yet opened. How are we expected to be sympathetic to systems that are not sympathetic to our needs. We are sending a message to the new government,” said Majongwe.
Teachers interviewed said they would not report for duty despite receiving the US$100.
“Its not possible for me to go back to work because I cannot afford to. The US$100 is not enough to cover even my basic needs. My three children require US$400 for school fees and how will I manage with this US$100? In fact I have just received these nutshells but I do not know who has eaten the nuts,” said Trust Muza a teacher based in Harare.
The nurses association could not be contacted to comment on the developments but doctors association said it had not received any reaction to the minister’s announcement.
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) chairperson Douglas Gwatidzo said he had not received any information from the nurses but that some doctors had indicated that they would return to work on 1 March.
“Some doctors have said that they would return to work on 1 March but I do not know whether they would be responding to the minister’s call or to some other arrangements,” said Gwatidzo.