Zimbabwe teachers threaten predictable ritual?

Government has expressed frustration over the "predictable ritual" of teachers threatening industrial action, as educators prepare for a sit-in set to start today across primary and secondary schools nationwide.

The dispute centres on poor working conditions and unsustainable wages, with teachers reporting earnings as low as US$270 per month. The Federation of Zimbabwe Educators Union (FOZEU) is demanding a minimum salary of US$1 250, citing the deteriorating state of the education system.

Unions under FOZEU, including the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Education Union of Zimbabwe, Professional Educators Union of Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Visually Impaired Teachers Union, have endorsed the planned industrial action.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro described the strike as a "seasonal pronouncement" and assured the public that schools would open as scheduled.

"Government is aware of the seasonal pronouncements from certain teachers' unions, which have become a predictable ritual at the start of each term," Ndoro said. "While we acknowledge their right to voice concerns, the nation has grown weary of this tactic, which seems designed more for headlines than for genuine problem-solving."

Ndoro added that the government remains committed to improving the quality of education and urged ongoing dialogue rather than last-minute threats of disruption. "Our message to parents, pupils and the committed teaching workforce is one of assurance and calm. The third term will commence as planned and learning will proceed without interruption," he said.

In contrast, ARTUZ accused government of failing to respect teachers' labour rights and warned that educators had been "pushed to the brink by starvation wages, unsafe working conditions, and a collapsing education system."

"Teachers across Zimbabwe are united, organised and ready to take decisive action until their demands are met," ARTUZ said in a statement. "Only through collective action can we reclaim our dignity, protect the right to organise, and save the education sector from collapse."

The stand-off sets the stage for tense negotiations, with the future of the third school term hanging in the balance as both sides maintain firm positions.