ZIMTA demands $800 for lowest paid teacher

THE Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (Zimta) says it wants the least-paid teacher to earn at least $800 per month.

Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Sibanda told NewsDay last week: "There have been a number of issues tabled in the past, the first of which is a Poverty Datum Line (PDL)-linked salary which we hoped to be above $800 at entry. According to us, if the lowest paid worker (in the civil service) gets $540 per month, it is possible for teachers to begin at $800, that is what is befitting of a teacher's status," he said.

Sibanda said the government had taken advantage of the confusion and disorganisation in the APEX Council in giving them an increment, which he said was nowhere near their demands, saying they would soon meet to come up with a new position paper.

"We are going to come up with a new position paper, in the short-term, our demands will be premised on what we have been demanding before (PDL-linked salary). The 5,3% was not negotiated. The ministry was taking advantage of our disorganisation," he said.

Sibanda said public service unions met a few days ago and implored the APEX Council to mobilise all groups to come forward and come up with a position paper by next week.

President Robert Mugabe has repeatedly pledged to review civil servants' salaries since he his party won a new five-year mandate last month.