The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) has urged its members to desist from locking pupils out of the classroom under the pretext of “incapacitation”, saying the Government has given assurances that it is working on addressing their grievances.
In a statement, the ZIMTA Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, said Government representatives invited the union for talks this Tuesday following the declaration of incapacitation by teachers. Said Ndlovu:
The (ZIMTA) leadership did put matters straight and square. The government admitted that its cocktail of intervention was informed by ZIMTA’s position papers and had a strong focus on a hybrid salary package so as to address the dual pricing model of goods and services in the market.
Pressed to hint at the package, the representatives could only say, “Government is looking at a package that is good.”
He said teachers should expect a positive response from the Government after the union presented a strong case for better remuneration and improved working conditions.
Ndlovu added that ZIMTA officials reiterated their demand for a hybrid salary of US$671 for the lowest-paid worker. He said:
There is nobody benefiting from the current tiff. While we declared incapacitation members should note that this is not a lockout.