News / Local
Zimbabwe teachers sick and tired of earning peanuts
6 hrs ago | Views
Dozens of teachers under the banner of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) staged a demonstration on Monday in Manicaland province, protesting against poor salaries and deteriorating working conditions in the country's education sector.
The teachers, who have long campaigned for improved remuneration, reiterated their demand for a monthly salary of US$1,260 - a figure they have consistently called for since 2018. At present, most teachers in Zimbabwe earn around US$300, an amount many say is far from sufficient to cover basic living expenses such as food, rent, healthcare, and their children's education.
One of the protesting teachers said they had grown tired of surviving on what they described as "peanuts," urging the government to act urgently. "That money will be enough to take our children to school. We also demand basic education for all," said the protester. They accused government officials of neglecting the plight of ordinary citizens while affording to send their own children to universities abroad.
The protest was not only about wages but also broader demands for improved working conditions. The teachers called for a return of their three-month vacation leave, the introduction of paternity leave for male staff, and the establishment of genuine collective bargaining structures to address their concerns. Many teachers expressed deep frustration at being treated as second-class professionals and said they were no longer willing to suffer in silence.
Another teacher said they were fed up with the ongoing poverty that has come to define their profession. "We want to be treated with dignity. We have had enough of poverty; it is time we must be seen as professionals," they said.
The demonstration in Manicaland comes amid rising discontent within Zimbabwe's public service. At the University of Zimbabwe, lecturers have now entered their 63rd day of a strike over poor salaries, staging weekly protests in defiance of the government's continued silence.
The growing unrest has placed mounting pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration, which has been criticised for prioritising political spending over social services. Observers warn that if the grievances of teachers and other civil servants remain unaddressed, Zimbabwe could face a deeper crisis in its public education system.
The teachers, who have long campaigned for improved remuneration, reiterated their demand for a monthly salary of US$1,260 - a figure they have consistently called for since 2018. At present, most teachers in Zimbabwe earn around US$300, an amount many say is far from sufficient to cover basic living expenses such as food, rent, healthcare, and their children's education.
One of the protesting teachers said they had grown tired of surviving on what they described as "peanuts," urging the government to act urgently. "That money will be enough to take our children to school. We also demand basic education for all," said the protester. They accused government officials of neglecting the plight of ordinary citizens while affording to send their own children to universities abroad.
Another teacher said they were fed up with the ongoing poverty that has come to define their profession. "We want to be treated with dignity. We have had enough of poverty; it is time we must be seen as professionals," they said.
The demonstration in Manicaland comes amid rising discontent within Zimbabwe's public service. At the University of Zimbabwe, lecturers have now entered their 63rd day of a strike over poor salaries, staging weekly protests in defiance of the government's continued silence.
The growing unrest has placed mounting pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration, which has been criticised for prioritising political spending over social services. Observers warn that if the grievances of teachers and other civil servants remain unaddressed, Zimbabwe could face a deeper crisis in its public education system.
Source - newzimbabwe
