Harare – With just days remaining before the commencement of the first school term on 14 January, Zimbabwean teachers have declared their unpreparedness to resume duties, citing incapacitation, low morale, and a host of other challenges.
This announcement comes as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education prepares to roll out a new Heritage-Based Curriculum, replacing the Competence-Based Curriculum.
The concerns are widespread, with teachers across the country expressing discontent. Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), reported on a nationwide survey indicating widespread dissatisfaction.
He stated, “The Zimbabwe education sector has been suffering from aggressive socio-economic turmoil for over 20 years, with visible rot in all facets of the sector. Teacher remuneration by the State still remains a sticking point.”
The survey highlighted particularly challenging conditions in Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North and South, Masvingo, and Midlands provinces, where over 82% of rural teachers reported unfavourable working conditions, including lack of water, inadequate accommodation, and poor school infrastructure.
Masaraure further elaborated on the challenges faced by teachers, stating, “To compound an already critical situation, teachers are having their civic and political rights infringed by the ruling party, with most teaching stations in rural outposts a nightmare for teachers due to interference by political parties, especially the ruling party.” This political interference, coupled with the existing economic hardships, creates a deeply concerning environment for educators.
Takavafira Zhou, president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), echoed these sentiments, stating, “Teachers are ill-prepared for the opening of schools in 2025. Fundamentally, the year 2024 was one of the most precipitous years in labour relations with the government. They failed to restore the purchasing power parity of US$540 basic salary.”
He also highlighted the government’s failure to meet various allowances, including those for heads of departments, A-Level, bloated classes, composite classes, Early Childhood Development, class teachers, and other responsibility allowances. Zhou believes that meaningful engagement before the school opening could alleviate the situation.
The issue of teacher remuneration remains central to the concerns. The average teacher currently earns around US$300, with a portion paid in the Zimbabwean Gold (ZiG) currency. Teachers have consistently called for the restoration of their 2018 basic salary of US$540, a demand that has been met with threats of dismissal from their employer should they engage in collective job action. This precarious situation leaves teachers with limited leverage to negotiate improved working conditions.
Beyond salary concerns, ARTUZ has vowed to challenge the government’s recent decision to raise the retirement age for civil servants. Masaraure argues that this decision is illegal, violating the right to collective bargaining as enshrined in Section 203 (i) (b) and Section 65 (v) of the Zimbabwean Constitution.
He stated, “The elevation of the retirement age of civil servants is illegal on the front of the right to collective bargaining…This cannot be unilaterally fixed by a bunch of people from the employer’s side wherever they meet in Cabinet or wherever they meet, we do not care. As long as they have not engaged the employee side to then say, what is rational of this particular change, we find such a change both inappropriate and illegal. That is why we are up against it.”
The government recently extended the retirement age for police officers to 55 (from 45) and for military personnel to 65 (from 50), with the possibility of extending to 70.
Masaraure further linked this decision to the broader issue of youth unemployment, arguing that the government’s actions are driven by factional infighting within the ruling Zanu PF party, rather than a genuine concern for national development.
He stated, “We understand that the ruling elites are locked in power tussles. We however have a responsibility to fight for labour justice and right to education. Our responsibilities will not be shelved to allow factions of the ruling elites to settle their power issues. We will continue with the fight demanding urgent solutions to the questions of the day. We are getting ready to push back against underpayment and the illegal elevation of the retirement age.”
He questioned the government’s rationale for retaining older workers while young graduates remain unemployed, stating, “We look at the rate of unemployment of our young people and realise that this government cannot create jobs. Why then do they want to keep old people occupying the little jobs that are there in the Republic?”
He vowed to continue protesting against these policies. The high rate of youth unemployment, coupled with the low life expectancy in Zimbabwe (below 60 years), further underscores the urgency of addressing these issues.
