By Staff Reporter
Teachers unions this past week exposed signs of division when the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) was accused of selling out when they “Nicodemusly” met President Mnangangwa.
Other teachers representative bodies have blamed ZIMTA for entering into a salary negotiation roundtable for teachers without the consent of all the other unions.
The Amalgamated Rural Teacher Union (ARTUZ) of Zimbabwe have since issued a statement describing the move by ZIMTA to meet President Mnangagwa as “ill fated” meant to fatten ZIMTA leadership’s pockets whilst shelving aside the teacher’s plight.
“They sneaked in secrecy to the ill fated meeting with the Head of State and government. They could not inform anyone because it was a routine elite collaboration, it is like a ritual. Traditionally the fat cats go there and get fat cheques and move on to call off teachers’ actions. History is awash with evidence. This time we did not give them space to sell out. They were forced to shelve their dirty plans after realizing that teachers were ready to dump them for selling out. This is a resounding victory, bureaucrats do not run our lives, we are a class ready to defend our rights,” it read.
ZIMTA have however , remained defiant arguing that their meeting with the President was above board as they were amplifying the voice of teachers and not selling out as suggested by other teachers unions.
“ZIMTA sought audience with HE on the 16th of October 2020 and was invited on the 22nd of October 2020 and met HE on the 26th of October 2020…ZIMTA defended teacher incapacitation. Statements that ZIMTA sold out is a fallacy by destructive, evil minds and work of intellectual midgets, pseudo trade unionists and anarchists. The petition by teacher unions to HE of the 21st of October 2020 was well after ZIMTA had on its own and for the benefit of its members sought audience with HE. It was not the other way round as those in the dark would want the world to believe.
Meanwhile, government and unions representing civil servants yesterday adjourned negotiations to later this week after discussions on salaries, wages and other employment terms.
Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe told the state media that the meeting of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) is expected to finalize concerns of civil servants.
“The meeting has ended without an agreement as yet, but we requested that they should reconnect soon, and we expect talks to resume later this week.
“As is normal, the negotiating parties might need to consult with members and I think that is the reason they have asked to convene it on a later date before finalising on the proposal put on the table by both parties,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
