The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said its members will go on strike with effect from today, due to the worsening local economic situation.

Zimta’s announcement yesterday was made as other unions also warned that they would embark on a nationwide strike at the lapse of their 14-day notice on Friday this week.

Speaking to Daily News, Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Sibanda said they rejected Government’s 19% salary increase offer. Said Sibanda:

The situation remains the same and we remain incapacitated. Government has not done anything to address the plight of teachers. So come tomorrow, (today) teachers will not report for work because they are incapacitated … that is the official position.

We have totally rejected the offer that the government has made as it is insignificant and does not address our needs. The employer must understand that we are workers and we need to survive. 

Some of the teachers have to spend $10 per day on transport and that takes away all their earnings. It is the duty of the government to source for money to pay its employees.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) also said its members were preparing to go on strike at the expiry of the two-week ultimatum on Friday.

Daily News