HARARE (AFP) — Zimbabwe school teachers will go on strike Friday to pressure the government to increase their salaries, the teachers union said.
“We have resolved to boycott classes and stay away from schools on Friday the 10th and July 17 …,” union president Takavafira Zhou said Tuesday.
Teachers are demanding a monthly salary increase of 454 US dollars from the current 100 dollars (72 euros), said Zhou.
Zhou warned that more boycotts will follow if government does not respond to their demands by next week.
“Further class boycotts and stay aways every Thursday and Friday starting from July 23 will take place if government does not respond to our demand,” Zhou told a news conference.
Zimbabwe teachers had returned to work in February following the creation of a unity government after striking since early last year to demand payment in foreign currency to cope with galloping inflation.
The embattled government has appealed for funds to rebuild the economy shattered by years of political strife.
Last week, China extended a 950-million-dollar loan to Zimbabwe, the largest amount secured by the new government since the power-sharing deal.
