Harare (New Ziana)-Cabinet on Tuesday ordered the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education in consultation with the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to take stern action against teachers who continue to absent themselves from work , Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

The government last Friday refined its offer to civil servants so that they will now take home US$175 in hard currency, over and above their Zimbabwe dollar salary component, which it increased by 20 percent earlier this month and backdated to January.

But some teachers are still not reporting for work citing financial incapacitation.

In a briefing after the first Cabinet of 2022, Mutsvangwa said Cabinet was unhappy that teachers were not reporting for duty.

“Cabinet is unhappy with teachers who continue to absent themselves from work.Cabinet noted with dismay the reported absenteeism by some teachers and headmasters . Of particular concern is the alleged barring of some teachers from attending to their work as well as attendance by some teachers without delivering lessons,” she said.

Mutsvangwa said action against errant teachers would be taken in consultation with the Public Service Commission.

“The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education has been instructed by Cabinet to take stern action in consultation with the chairman of the Public Service Commission, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education together with the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Cabinet would like to commend teachers who have continued to attend to teaching our children,” she said.

The development comes after Monday’s meeting between the President Emmerson Mnangagwa and trade unions where they pleaded with him to lift suspension of educators who had not reported for duty since schools opened on February 2022.

Zimbabwe Public Sector Workers Trade Union president Cecilia Alexander earlier told New Ziana that the President also raised concerns about teachers who are bringing politics into their labour demands, amid reports Western countries opposed to the government were influencing some union leaders.

She said those teachers were not appreciative that the government continues to refine their salary perks.

“Some of the civil servants are not appreciative. They still insist on US$540,” she said.
New Ziana