HARARE Donors now view Zimbabwe to be a bottomless pit and will therefore not pay teachers salaries. (Pictured: David Coltart)
This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, David Coltart at a teachers conference in Harare last week. Coltart said : “Donors have told me that this country is a bottomless pit and they will not support us until the GPA is fully implemented.
“They will not give us a cent even for teachers salaries.” Coltart was responding to enquiries from members of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA). ZIMTA President Tendai Chikowore told, Coltart, that teachers were very unhappy and he was lying to them about salaries.
She said money was disappearing from Chiadzwa diamond fields in Manicaland that could be used to pay cash strapped teachers. “I will look into the matter,” said Coltart . “I know you guys are very unhappy but there is no money in Zimbabwe right now full stop.”
Government last week announced it was freezing civil servants salaries until the economy improved. Finance Minister Tendai Biti said the civil servants salary bill of US$913was too much. Civil servants earn between US$ 165 and US$250.
Post published in: News