Tendai Ruben Mbofana
IF the ever-bungling Zimbabwe regime had been a roving circus act, it would have been a huge hit, guaranteed my undying devotion and following — as it has proven to be thoroughly amusing, with its clown-like antics of clumsiness and messing up.
Yet, these are not red-nosed, face-painted, brightly dressed, and oversized-boot wearing imbecilic bozos, but a bunch of well-dressed, highly-learned, and high-sounding men and women who are supposed to be in charge of the affairs of the republic.
Otherwise, how could anyone characterise a government that has a whole Cabinet minister who has the temerity to accuse teachers — whose monthly salaries were criminally and unfairly reduced from an already pathetic US$520 per month in 2018, to today’s average of US$187 — of seeking to “destabilise the country”, for merely standing up for their rights — for their legitimate wages to be restored?
This “honourable“ minister did not stop his wild rant there, but proceeded to point a finger at some unnamed Western governments for funding teachers’ organisations, in the hope of “inciting civil unrest” within the country — a now all-too-familiar unverified and unconvincing “broken record” claim, which those in power have always pulled out of their near-empty bag of excuses, whenever they are exposed for their shameless ineptitude, wilful injustices and wanton corruption.
If this were a comic skit by some clowns in a circus, I would have been rolling on the floor in an uncontrollable fit of laughter — but then, this is real life, and there are real lives at stake here.
Surely, would the Public Service acting minister Paul Mavima care to explain to us mere mortals — who may not be smart enough to grasp these intricate issues — how anyone is expected to survive on a measly US$187 a month?
To make matter worse, these are our teachers, whose role in nation-building can never be overemphasised — since, every country is founded and shaped through the work of these amazing men and women who impart knowledge to all of us, yet are hardly appreciated by government.
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Can the minister live and adequately fend for his family on US$187 a month — with any measure of respectability and honour?
If he can, then may he kindly share his phenomenal budgetary skills with the nation in order for all of us to learn one or two things.
If he manages to convince us, we may begin to believe that these teachers are, indeed, nothing less than foreign-funded mercenaries who harbour nefarious intentions for our beautiful Zimbabwe.
However, as the situation currently stands, not even a domestic worker should be demeaned by being paid such an inhumane salary.
All our civil servants deserve living wages — not loans, which will only sink them deeper into indebtedness and poverty.
That is why the deceitful and crooked government employee mutual savings fund, launched in February this year, is a big no, and a fraud.
Workers’ first preference is to be paid fair salaries, and they do not expect their employer to turn into loan sharks as a way of avoiding paying them employees what they deserve.
Yes, indeed, an employer may offer employees loans (especially at concessionary rates), but they must fulfil their contractual obligation.
Furthermore, the 2018 monthly salary of US$520 that teachers are clamouring for is far from being adequate considering how much their counterparts are earning across the southern African region.
Instead of always seeking to blame others for its failure, the government needs to wake up to the fact that it is the number one enemy which is destabilising the nation, and inciting civil unrest by treating citizens like rubbish.
Let us never forget that peace is not a one-way street — as it takes two to tango.
One can never expect citizens to always remain peaceful and timid when the government does not play its part — treating citizens with respect, honour and dignity.
We, as the people of Zimbabwe, are sick and tired of this continued ill-treatment, abuse, and cruelty at the hands of those in power.
We cannot take it anymore, and turning the other cheek has its limits — since the cheeks are now bruised and bleeding from the relentless attacks by those mandated with protecting and caring for us.
The government should stop blaming others for its failure but face up to its responsibilities.
Even a dog, when kicked, beaten, and bullied often enough, will eventually bite — and, the abuser should not turn around and accuse the dog of “causing unrest”.
