Jobless Zimbabwean teachers flock to Namibia

UNEMPLOYED Zimbabwean teachers are reportedly flocking to Namibia after the neighbouring country's government advertised 2 000 teaching posts which it said are open to Sadc region nationals. There are about 25 000 unemployed teachers in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president Richard Gundane however urged teachers to treatsuch adverts with caution.

In the advert, the Namibian Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture advised interested candidates to submit their applications by August 29. The posts are for both primary and secondary schools and teachers will be deployed to different provinces.

"All foreign qualifications must be submitted with evaluation reports from Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA). All qualifications or transcripts not indicating the duration of the qualification must be accompanied with a testimonial testifying the duration e.g. 3 year qualification or student completed/passed 3 year qualification," read the statement.

"An attractive range of benefits for permanent full time staff members include a housing benefit, transport allowance, pension fund, medical aid scheme, social security and ample vacation and sick leave."

The ministry said certified copies of educational qualifications and a complete CV including history of employment must accompany application on Form 156043 and 156094 obtainable on all Government Offices and on www.moe.gov.na.

"Interested persons from the designated group are strongly encouraged to apply." Mr Gundane yesterday said: "I saw the advert online and I am still verifying to check its authenticity. We encourage those willing to apply to make sure they negotiate for good working conditions.''

"They must get fair contracts that will guarantee good labour standards. We do not want a situation where anyone is hooked into crime or fake employers who dupe people of their hard earned cash," said Mr Gundane.

He said the applicants must be wary of bogus employers who demand payment during the application process. A Namibian official yesterday said interested teachers should approach the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs office to process their work permits.

"Applicants are required to have work permits. They can submit their applications while working on acquiring the permits," she said. A Zimbabwean lecturer working in Namibia said the work permit could take up to 60 days to process and costs R2 800.

A teacher who lost his job after deserting pupils to look for greener pastures in South Africa in 2008, said he had met many Zimbabweans scrambling to apply. "I hand delivered my application and I met scores of other Zimbabweans doing the same," said Mr Zenzo Sibanda.