Govt hires retired teachers to counter strike

The Zimbabwean government, battling with a strike action by teachers, has resorted to hiring retired educators to man classrooms and invigilate ongoing examinations. Long queues could be seen on Tuesday at the offices of the ministry of education in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo, as retired teachers and unemployed graduates jostled for the job offers. "We have not yet been told how much we will be paid for our services during the invigilation of examinations, but I think it would be something worthwhile. I have not been employed since my graduation in 2002 and I think this is a grand chance for me to get a few [Zim] dollars for myself, as you know how difficult life is these days," a job hopeful, Malvern Mavhaire, told IRIN. Teachers went on strike last week, demanding a review of their salaries from Zim $670,000 (about US $119) to at least Zim $1.4 million ($249). The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe calculates the minimum monthly expenditure for a family of four at around Zim $249. Raymond Majongwe, secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), told IRIN that members of his organisation would not return to work if the government did not address their grievances. "We are requesting that an ordinary teacher be paid at least Zim $1.4 million ($ 249) per month and a 50 percent transport allowance to cushion them from the ever-skyrocketing cost of living, but government seems reluctant to bend to our demands. But we are also saying, as PTUZ, we are not going back to work if this is not done," said Majongwe. Authorities said the response to the recruitment advertisements placed last week had been overwhelming. "So far more than 100 personnel have been recruited here (Bulawayo) and I don't think the strike by teachers will in any way affect or disrupt the examinations," said a government official who preferred not to be named.