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09 February 2022
Prosperity Sikhosana<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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THE government has responded to incapacitation reasons by teachers for not returning to class at the start of the first term this past Monday by effecting a salary increment to all civil servants which also include a number of non-monetary incentives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was announced by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday majority of teachers did not report to school citing incapacitation a move that is threatening to cripple the country\u2019s education sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Ncube revealed that the government has increased teachers’ salaries by 20 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A 20 percent increase in the Zimbabwean dollar salary component backdated to 1 January 2022 will be implemented across the board, US$100 per month in hard currency will be paid to every civil servant with effect from the 1st of March 2022,” read the statement by Professor Mthuli Ncube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minister further said that this will be done through the conversion of a corresponding Zimbabwe dollar salary into hard currency thereby bringing the foreign currency amount to US$175.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further addressing the needs of the teachers, Prof. Ncube announced that the government will pay teachers’ children’s school fees of up to Z$20 000 per child per term. The school fees incentive covers three children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Mthuli said that there be an introduction an advancement award, which means workers will be graded in terms of academic qualifications and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Mthuli did not, however, explain how the academics qualifications as well as work experience will be remunerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government has also promised to construct 34 000 housing units over a five year period “as institutional accommodation, including critical amenities for teachers within school premises.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this may be a noble idea, the government has failed dismally in constructing proper schools in some rural areas as well as teacher accommodation for many, yet minister Prof. Mthuli embarks on more promises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transport to ferry teachers in both rural and urban areas will be made available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again the government’s public transporter is failing to cope with urban commuters but the Minister promises to ferry teachers from and to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The model to be used in transporting teachers from and to their places of work has not been explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government has also promised the issuance of housing loans for teachers to guarantee home ownership for civil servants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the demands by teachers have been met especially the payment of school fees for the civil servant’s children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the main bone of contention, the US$540 that the teachers are demading has not been addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doing calculations on whether this increase is enough, let’s look at it this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assuming one earns Z$30 000 and you add 20% increase, it becomes Z$36 000 in total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, if US$1 is equivalent to Z$120 then US$75 equals Z$9 000. Subtracting that from Z36 000 becomes Z$27 000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US$100 into Zimbabwe dollar becomes Z$12 000. Subtract that, becomes Z$15 000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n