Zimta President Gundani accused of filing to articulate teachers issues

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) President Richard Gundani has been accused by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) officials for failing to articulate concerns of teachers as the profession is currently facing numerous challenges ranging from the change of the curriculum to the delay in getting paid and non increment of their salaries.

The PTUZ in a statement said recently held Global Action Week commemorated belatedly in Zimbabwe at Chaplin High School in Gweru on the 19th June 2015 saw the Zimta President Gundani disgracing himself and the rest of the teaching fraternity by failing to articulate teachers' issues.

"On his remarks responding to concerns by speakers at the commemorations the second highest office on the land said, "I did not understand what was said by the teachers' representative or he wanted us to increase their salaries."

The PTUZ said Zimta had used its influence to ensure no other Teachers' Union spoke at the occasion despite the agreement in the planning meetings that each Union would speak for at least two minutes so that all voices would be heard.

"The provisional programme was made following these recommendations but come commemoration day, the programme was altered and allowed only one representative to speak on behalf of teachers," reads the PTUZ statement.

"His woes began right from introductions where he was introduced by the Director of Ceremonies as representing Teachers' Union in Zimbabwe. He then spoke to the effect that teachers needed a good environment and tools to do a quality job disregarding our long standing requests of non monetary incentives and importation of duty free vehicles. He could have at least taken the agreed Apex Council position."

The PTUZ said aAll other speakers were promised what they asked for except the teachers whose request the VP could not understand. "To ZIMTA we say consult so that we do not waste away golden opportunities to present our case. Work with others, two are always better than one," said PTUZ.

"This was a lesson learnt if there are any learners in the association."