Zimbabwe rural teachers threaten to camp outside Mthuli Ncube’s office

Zimbabwe’s rural teachers have threatened to camp outside Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s office from today until their demands are met.

The teachers are being organised by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) which last month organised a march from Mutare to Harare.

There were reports that marchers were promised a $100 fee but were later given groceries.

Teachers in Zimbabwe are represented by several unions but the biggest one is the Zimbabwe Teachers Association.

Another leading organisation is the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.

ARTUZ said its members will be demanding adequate learning material for the new curriculum, salaries in United States dollars, 2018 annual bonus in full, and the scrapping of the 2% tax.

The government has already announced that it cannot pay civil servants in US dollars.

The two percent tax was passed by Parliament and is already being used to cushion the poor and to meet some of the demands from government workers.

The union said those who will be joining its “salary camp” will be required to march with their pockets out signifying that they are broke.

It also said it is sending negotiators to the proposed meeting between the government and civil service unions today “to negotiate in good faith while the rest of our members patiently wait for the good news at Mthuli’s offices”.

“We are encouraged by the timely response of the government to Delta’s demand for foreign currency. We are confident that with more consistency and revolutionary discipline our demands will also be met,” the union said referring to the plan by Delta Zimbabwe last week to charge for its beverages in US dollars.

The government together with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe met Delta officials and agreed to provide the company with foreign currency but it had to charge for its drinks in bond notes and electronic money.

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