Rural school teachers are continuing with their 275km march from Mutare to Harare. The march which began on Sunday was organised by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) and has now been joined by other teachers’ unions, that is, the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA).
The marching teachers expect to arrive in Harare in 10 days’ time and picket at the offices of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure said
Not even the inclement weather conditions will deter us in demanding our dues from the government.
Ours is a national cause and we are not going to stop demanding that which we know is good for the thousands of teachers who are suffering in this economic crisis.
Some hospitals are now demanding payment in US dollars, filling stations too and the government is demanding US dollars when importing cars, but teachers and the rest of the civil service are getting bond notes, we are also human and asking that we be treated in a humane way.
They cannot tell us that they do not have money when we hear that they bought Range Rover Discoveries for themselves, we on the other hand do not want Range Rover Discoveries but want our sweat to be paid in a currency which can allow us to sustain our families.
The teachers’ demands are clear; a restoration of our bonuses, payment of our salaries in United States dollars and an improvement of working conditions.
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