BY TAKUDZWA MUNEMO
The government has courted the ire of teachers after failing to pay them their November salary and bonus without offering any explanation.
Yesterday, the teachers released a statement demanding the urgent disbursement of their salary and 13th cheque, accusing the government of unfairness.
The government paid other civil servants from the security services salaries and bonuses last week.
"The omission has caused significant financial hardship and raised serious questions on the fairness, transparency and integrity of the employer's commitment to honouring contractual obligations," the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said in a statement.
"The ZiG component is a fundamental part of our agreed-upon remuneration package.
"Its exclusion from the November 2024 payment constitutes a breach of the terms of employment and breach and an erosion of trust between employees and the employer."
Zimta demanded an explanation for the delayed payment of salaries to the educators as well as genuine dialogue on their welfare issues.
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"While the omission might be explained in administrative and financial terms, the failure to pay what is rightfully ours feels like a devaluation of our efforts, morale and dignity as educators and public servants," Zimta said.
"It signals a lack of recognition of the vital services we render to society."
No comment could be obtained from the Public Service Commission last night.
Finance ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga recently admitted that the government was broke in his letter to ministries where he warned of spending cuts.
Guvamatanga cited the 43% depreciation of the ZIG, saying this resulted "in a substantial mismatch between revenue inflows, collected in some cases, with a one-month lag and local currency expenditures that immediately adjusted to the new exchange rate, in the process severely constraining fiscal space for the last quarter of 2024."
“The imbalance was further exacerbated by a backdated salary review award in October 2024 to the civil service," he said.
"Given the consequent limited fiscal space and the need to mobilise additional resources to fund critical inescapable expenditures that include the 2024 bonus award, food deficit mitigation support, 2024/25 agriculture input support and utilities among other critical requirements MDAs (ministries, departments and agencies) are, therefore, requested to prioritise their expenditure commitments during this period.”
Authorities introduced the ZiG in April this year to replace the Zimdollar which had been battered by inflation.
