Teachers call for an indefinite strike

Zimbabwe's main public sector union has backed down from plans for a national strike, citing the "volatile situation" after security forces cracked down on protesters this month, but teachers will go ahead with a work stoppage.

The Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA) and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said in a joint statement on Thursday that their more than 55,000 members will not report for duty from next Tuesday, exposing a split between the education sector and the rest of the civil service.

"Our members will be withdrawing their services/labour and will not be reporting for duty with effect from the said date," the unions said. A ZIMTA official said other smaller teachers' groups would likely join the strike.

Wage negotiations between the government and the Apex Council, which represents 17 public sector unions, broke down on Wednesday. The unions then met to decide a date for a strike and announce it this week but the talks ended in disarray.

"Apex feels that its not conducive to take action," Cecilia Alexander, Apex Council's chairwoman told Reuters.

"The situation is volatile and polarised and the action we take may be hijacked for issues which have nothing to do with labour."

A three-day strike called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions from January 14 over a fuel price hike decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa turned into violence and looting. Rights groups over a dozen people were killed.

The events of the past two weeks exposed the instinctive heavy-handedness of security forces, leading many to say that Mnangagwa is reverting to the strongarm tactics used by his predecessor Robert Mugabe, who was removed in a military coup in 2017.

Zimbabweans say Mnangagwa is failing to deliver on pre-election promises to provide accessible health and education and jobs to the majority, leading to growing frustration that analysts say could trigger further unrest.

The government's 305,000 workers are demanding wage rises and payments in dollars to help them stave off spiralling inflation and an economic crisis that has sapped supplies of cash, fuel and medicines in state hospitals.

Union leaders have traded accusations of being paid by either the opposition or the government to go on strike and cause violence.

The teachers, in their joint statement, said they wanted to "restore the teachers' dignity and to enable teachers to be capacitated in every aspect of their lives by obtaining salaries which are meaningful and above the poverty datum line."

The unions said they had "afforded dialogue with the employer a chance at countless meetings" but the government was offering a "meagre salary adjustment and ‘cushioning' adjustments which are akin to a slap in the face of our membership as they are far from addressing the economic challenges faced."

Mnangagwa's spokesman acknowledged the difficult economic situation on Wednesday but said it would take time to rebuild after suffering for decades.

More than 1,000 people were arrested for public order offences following the protests in mid-January and lawyers say they have been unable to extend representation to several hundred detainees including children.