By Rutendo Jiri
Teacher unions representing the country’s teachers are allegedly embroiled in a tag of war to be seen as the legitimate teachers’ voice in the country.
Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) led by Richard Gundane, released an authoritative press statement dismissed efforts by pseudo teacher unions cum political activists such as the Progressive Teacher Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and emphasized ZIMTAs’ position as the authority teacher’s voice in Zimbabwe.
“We urge all of you professional teachers not to be disturbed by the ongoing side shows being put up by rival teacher unions and individuals who spend loads of precious time on social media discussion imaginary meetings, talks, discussions and situations taking place in ZIMTA.
Obviously we as the leading professional association in Zimbabwe do not accept much from the briefcase teachers unions, cum political parties whose main agenda is to drag ZIMTAs’ professionalism into the mud.” read the presser.
In response, the PTUZ led by Dr Takavafira Zhou took to, microblogging site, twitter to reassert their position as the unadulterated voice of teachers in Zimbabwe.
“The attack on PTUZ using a combination of gutter lies and childish propaganda is unnecessary. We would like to make a deal with you: if you stop telling people lies about us, we will not tell people the truth about you. If you think this is a joke, fill in the space provided below,” tweeted PTUZ.
PTUZ has accused ZIMTA of being sympathetic to Government position with regards to teacher’s welfare.
However, ZIMTA declared that, it will not let the fate of professional teachers in Zimbabwe be decided by pseudo political activists bent on reversing the gains of salary and welfare negotiations currently taking place between Government and teachers.
ZIMTA also highlighted its historical position as the country’s oldest teacher union to represent teachers concerns without fear or favour for the past 80 years.
“ZIMTA is a legend in the game of trade unionism. Not only do we lead in terms of membership, but our ideas and strategies have kept teacher trade unionism alive for the past 80 years in Zimbabwe,” said ZIMTA.
ZIMTA further tore into ARTUZ highlighting that the latter cannot school it, because it is historically young and only has a maximum membership of about 100 teachers.
ZIMTA encouraged all smaller and recent teacher unions to rally under its umbrella and champion the plight of teachers together.
“Contrary to their actions, ours is to encourage them to join us, so that we may capacitate them and work with them for the benefit of the teachers, whom they purport to represent,” said ZIMTA.
ZIMTA is part of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) which has, over the past months, been periodically meeting to discuss and address teacher welfare in Zimbabwe.
During salary negotiations between Government and teacher, yesterday, Government offered teachers a salary equivalent to $US360.
