By A Correspondent

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the country’s largest teachers’ union, has sharply criticized the government for failing to pay teachers’ full salaries and bonuses for November 2024, leaving many educators in financial distress.

The government failed to pay the ZiG component of some teachers’ salaries and 50% of their bonuses for the month without offering any explanation. ZIMTA has expressed its concern, stating that this omission has caused “significant financial hardship” for affected teachers. In a statement, the union said:

“The omission has caused significant financial hardship and raised serious questions about the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the employer’s commitment to honoring contractual obligations.”

The ZiG component, a crucial part of teachers’ agreed-upon remuneration package, was not included in the November payments, a move ZIMTA described as a “breach of the terms of employment” that further “erodes trust between employees and the employer.”

ZIMTA also emphasized the damaging impact on teachers’ morale, saying:

“While the omission might be explained in administrative and financial terms, the failure to pay what is rightfully ours feels like a devaluation of our efforts, morale, and dignity as educators and public servants. It signals a lack of recognition of the vital services we render to society.”

The union has called on the government to promptly disburse the outstanding salaries and bonuses and to open a genuine dialogue regarding the teachers’ welfare.

Teachers have voiced frustrations over what they view as a consistent pattern of neglect by the government, with no clear answers or action to resolve the issue.