Teachers threaten to strike over unpaid 2015 bonuses

By Jonga Kandemiiri

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe general-secretary, Raymond Majongwe, says teachers are likely to stay away from work Tuesday when schools open following the government’s failure to pay them delayed 2015 bonuses.

The government had promised to pay the bonuses on April 30 but failed to deliver owing to the current harsh economic environment in the country that has caused slow revenue inflows into the national fiscus.

“There was not even a thread of explanation from anybody. It basically became speculative and as usual they want to use the social media to make us prisoners of hope,” said Majongwe.

Majongwe said what makes it worse is that they are being made second class citizens after the government paid all those that it fears like members of the national army and police force.

He said teachers are upset about the latest development and as a result some of them have even failed to send children to school due to lack of money.

State officials were not reachable for comment. VOA Studio 7