Zimbabwe teachers divided over strike

Zimbabwe’s teachers are divided over whether to go on strike or not with the main teachers unions the Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe saying their members will go on strike from tomorrow while the Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said it will continue negotiations for non-monetary benefits with the government.

The government and unions representing civil servants failed to reach agreement over demands by civil servants for higher salaries and perks but the majority said they would rather continue to negotiate than go on strike.

Last week the government sent a clear signal to striking civil servants that they would not be paid for the time they are not at work when it refused to pay junior doctors for the 40 days they were on strike from the beginning of December last year.

The Public Service Commission also announced today that it is looking at 1 500 applications from teachers to fill vacant posts.

The government budgeted for the employment of 3 000 teachers this year.

There are 8 509 vacant posts.

The commission also said there are 19 993 trained teachers who are unemployed, some of whom graduated seven years ago.

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