GWANDA - Hundreds of returning teachers who were re-admitted by the government in May this year are yet to receive their salaries. Teachers who spoke to The Zimbabwean said they believed the government was punishing them for abandoning school children years back when they quit teaching to seek greener pastures abroad.(Pictured: Teachers fear their lack of pay is pu
We submitted our assumption of duty forms way back in April but surprisingly we are yet to receive our salaries. I think we are being made to pay for leaving classes, said one teacher who requested anonymity.
Teachers have been leaving the country in large numbers since 2000 when Zimbabwes economy begun showing signs of collapse. Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) last week threatened to go on strike saying teachers did not want to continue to live in abject poverty and perpetual debt.
Among its demands, which include a salary of US$300 and an allowance of US$100 monthly, ZIMTA is also requesting that the government relaxes regulations on the re-admission of returning teachers so that they can access their salaries within 30 days of their reinstatement.
Returning teachers are reportedly surviving on the benevolence of other teachers who lend them money. The Ministry of Education says its carrying out an audit of teachers in the country as it suspects there are a number of ghost teachers on the government payroll.
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