THE Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) said it has lined up provincial annual general meetings (AGMs) across the country to discuss, among other things, deteriorating conditions of service for its members. KHANYILE MLOTSHWA
The meetings come hardly a week before the first term commences with other unions threatening to mobilise their members to down tools when schools open next Tuesday.
Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu, however, dispelled the strike threats.
“The provincial AGMs are in preparation for the national conference to be held in April,” he said.
“We also want to give people feedback on a number of issues and the developments in 2012. The AGMs should have been done last year, but when we came to the close of the year, there were a lot of things happening and we pushed it to this year.”
Bulawayo province will have its AGM tomorrow as well as Harare, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Masvingo, Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces.
Midlands, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces will have their AGMs on Saturday.
“Usually we get resolutions and the year’s agenda from such meetings. We expect delegates from districts and branches to attend the AGMs.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“What is fundamental to our members are the issues to do with the conditions of service. These are the issues that we expect to be discussed at the provincial AGMs.
“The meetings have nothing to do with the reports that we are seeing in some papers that there are possibilities of a teachers’ strike.We cannot speak about a strike now.”
“Our strike usually comes after these meetings, but we are not anticipating that delegates will come to these AGMs with an idea to strike.”
Ndlovu said Zimta was committed to re-engaging the government after stalled consultations with the Apex leadership.
Since the formation of the inclusive government three years ago, teachers and other civil servants have been pushing for an upward salary review to cushion them against poverty.
However, Treasury has insisted that it cannot meet the demands due to cashflow problems.
