By The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has criticised the government for getting its priorities wrong by giving MPs and government ministers loans at a time when the plight of teachers is not being taken care of.
ARTUZ’s statements comes just a few days after MPs and government ministers recived loans of US$40 000 and US$500 000 respectively from the government.
ARTUZ argued that the money was enough to cater for teachers who continue to receive minimum wages in local currency while the government channels money towards other uses.
“$40k one MP can pay $540 to a civil servant for 6yrs,$500k one Minister can pay $540 to a civil servant for 77yrs,$350k one Dep Minister can pay $540 to a civil servant for 54yrs.MthuliNcube takakutadzirei chaiko? Tipowo USD 540,”ARTUZ said
In Zimbabwe, a teacher earns less than $200 (£150) a month using the official exchange rate, and less than $100 at the illegal market exchange rate widely used for goods and services.
Teachers are demanding a basic salary of $540 a month which they were earning before the government switched to paying them in local currency and said that the government offer of $100 extra a month is not enough to cushion them against the runaway inflation.
The education sector in Zimbabwe has been crippled by industrial actions that have often led to poor results.
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