>On Thursday, Bulawayo police refused to clear a PTUZ meeting citing the
union’s record of battles over teachers’ salaries with government, and
constant pronouncements by its leader Raymond Majongwe against bad
governance.
According to a police statement to the PTUZ, the union was accused of
being
“bent on tarnishing the country’s image” hence the position to forbid
its
meeting. The police, however made a change to its decision on Friday
after
the PTUZ filed an urgent court application with the High Court arguing
that
the police have no jurisdiction to block their meeting.
A PTUZ official yesterday said the police had sent a statement allowing
the
union to go ahead with its celebrations.
He said: “Our matter was about to be heard in the High Court at noon
but the
police sent someone to say the celebrations have been cleared as long
as we
don’t talk politics or carry banners with political messages.”
He added: “They also said that they will keep an eye on us and reserve
the
right to end it if need be. But we will go ahead and discuss all the
matters
affecting teachers without fear. Most of our members are not happy with
the
recent salary hike as businesses rushed to increase the costs of basic
commodities upon learning we have been given higher pay.”
The state media on Friday reported that the government has awarded
civil
servants a 422 percent salary increment.
Depicting the direct effects of the civil servants pay increase, the
Chronicle newspaper reported that: “basic commodities are shooting up
again,
with a loaf of bread now going for $200 000 — that is if you can find
it in
the first place.”