Government teachers yesterday accused the state for intimidating teachers and force them to go back to work while their demands have not been addressed.
Teachers have however vowed not to be cowed into submission.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvagwa on Tuesday said the Public Service Commission (PSC) had kick-started the process of removing truant teachers’ salaries in line with government’s no- work, no-pay policy.
Addressing a post-Cabinet Press briefing on Tuesday, Mutsvagwa said the Primary and Secondary Education ministry had already forwarded names of teachers who were not attending work last month to the PSC so that their salaries could be blocked.
Government introduced the policy of no-work, no-pay after teachers had declared incapacitation.
However, teachers yesterday accused the state of using guerilla tactics, and have vowed that they will not be intimidated or threatened.
It was reported that only about 70 000 out of 140 000 teachers were working at most twice a week since the opening of schools this term.
Progressive Teachers Union Of Zimbabwe, President Takawira Zhou said the government should put a reason ahead before emotions.
”We hope the Cabinet would intervene on behalf of teachers to ensure that they do not continue to be treated in a degrading and servitude manner.” He said.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe President, Obert Masarure posted on their twitter handle that teachers will not report for duty until their issues have been addressed.
”Whether their names have been complied or not, whether the teachers are being threatened or not, the issue is that they know what they want and they are going to stand for it.” The post reads.
Teachers are still demanding to be paid in USD$ or equivalency in local currency thus a salary of between USD$520 to USD $550.
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union said teachers are professionals who do not need to be reminded on how to do their work by the government’s hard stance.
