A Zimbabwean teacher has issued a heartfelt plea to the Government, urging authorities to review and adjust teachers’ salaries to reflect the real cost of living.
In an open letter addressed to the Government of Zimbabwe, the teacher, who chose to remain anonymous, outlined the financial hardships faced by educators, citing a monthly income of approximately US$340, which falls well below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL).
The teacher detailed a monthly expenditure breakdown that paints a stark picture of life on a civil servant’s salary. Read the letter below:
To the Government of Zimbabwe,
I am writing to humbly request consideration for a salary increase above the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) for teachers like myself. With a monthly income of approximately $340, I struggle to cover essential expenses.
A breakdown of my actual monthly expenses reveals the stark reality:
– Rentals: $150
– Food: $200 (for four)
– School fees: $200 (estimated monthly, $600 per term for boarding)
– Transport: $80
– Medication: $200 (for a family of four, private doctor)
– Others: $300
– Emergency fund: $130
Actual Total Cost:$1260
Given my income of $340, it’s clear that my salary is insufficient to cover basic needs, let alone save for emergencies.
I kindly request that the government consider increasing our salaries to better align with the cost of living and international labour standards.
After addressing the above issues, let’s boldly talk about *Mission*, *Vision*, and *Values*, and how they can be meaningfully implemented when teachers’ basic needs are met.
We appreciate the visit made by our Education Minister, Dr. Moyo, but feel that he should have immediately advocated for a salary package for teachers if he was a keen observer of our challenges.
Sincerely,
ZIMBABWEAN TEACHER”
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