Teachers Demand Dignity as Government Neglect Worsens

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) is still demanding that teachers’ salaries be increased to a minimum of US$1,200, which has brought attention to the predicament of Zimbabwe’s teachers once again. These requests come in light of the catastrophic economic constraints faced by educators, whose current pay barely touch the surface of the country’s food poverty level, set at over US$500. Teachers are locked in a vicious circle of financial instability as inflation quickly erodes their already meagre incomes.

Teachers are being neglected by a leadership that appears more interested in stifling criticism than solving the very real problem of underpayment. Teachers are vital to the future development of Zimbabwe’s youth. This was emphasised in ARTUZ’s World Teachers Day statement, which noted that despite their attempts to promote improved working conditions and equitable pay, teachers’ voices are being silenced.

It’s about dignity, not simply about the pay. With an average monthly salary of only $350 USD, Zimbabwean teachers are sometimes unable to meet their basic necessities for transportation, food, and healthcare. It is a cry for survival, not luxury, that $1,260 is needed. And yet, the government has turned to intimidating, kidnapping, and harassing union officials rather than having a serious conversation with the teachers’ unions.

Particularly unsettling is the situation of Robson Chere, the secretary-general of ARTUZ. He was taken from an aircraft without his will, disappeared, was subjected to abuse, and was finally left off at a police station just a month ago. This episode serves as a symbol of the extent the government would go to silence critics. This incident presents a troubling image of the relationship between the government and the very people tasked with educating the country, combined with the raids, suspensions, and other harsh measures used by the state.

The fact that this repression occurs at a time when teachers are not making excessive expectations is particularly concerning. They are requesting a salary that would enable them to have somewhat secure and respectable lives. Obert Masaraure, the president of ARTUZ, has been at the centre of these conflicts and has frequently been persecuted for his support of teachers’ rights in Zimbabwe.

Given the current state of affairs, this year’s World Teachers Day theme, “Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” couldn’t be more appropriate or ironic. Zimbabwe needs to examine its treatment of teachers seriously if it is serious about the future of its educational system. Paying teachers a fair compensation is about more than simply economics; it’s about appreciating the hard work they do, acknowledging their challenges, and making sure the educational system is well-founded. The nation’s entire future is in jeopardy without this.

The need for worldwide support and attention is growing in tandem with the cries for pay hikes. Zimbabwe’s teachers deserve no less than the teachers’ unions that have supported progressive change in education systems around the world for many years. They require concrete financial changes to their life in addition to moral help. It is unrealistic to expect an underappreciated, underpaid teacher to instill in the next generation the enthusiasm and drive required to advance Zimbabwe.

Pay is not the only issue at stake in this conflict between ARTUZ and the government. It’s about acknowledging that Zimbabwe’s teachers hold the key to the country’s future, about respect, and about the freedom of speech. It is detrimental to the children whose futures are at stake as well as to the educators themselves to ignore their requests or, worse, silence them with state-sponsored violence.

Thus, ARTUZ’s war is not just a labour disagreement; it is a battle for the nation’s educational system’s spirit, and it will only get worse as long as the government places more value on intimidation than on dialogue. The upcoming months will demonstrate if the government is prepared to interact with educators in a sincere manner or whether it intends to carry on with its current course of persecution. The entire world, including the people of Zimbabwe, is observing.

More: The Zim Bulletin