By Rangarirai Shanyurai
The Zimbabwe Teachers Remuneration Struggle Movement (ZTRS) has slammed 13 Unions representing teachers in Zimbabwe, accusing them of sleeping on duty failing to advocate for better salaries and working conditions.
Some of the Unions include Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) Professional Educators’ Union of Zimbabwe (Peuz), the Zimbabwe National Teachers’ Union (Zinatu) and others
ZTRS Interim president, Zvikomborero Nyabadza said as a movement they wanted to remind unions to play their role while urging teachers to save their hard earned money rather than paying subscriptions to the 13 unions.
“We wanted to remind unions of their sole mandate of representing teachers on the negotiating table not introducing funeral policies and loans. Secondly it is wise for a teacher to save the little peanuts they are getting than feed sleeping unions.
“It is unacceptable to continue paying subscriptions in the economic situation we are in right now in Zimbabwe. One should get the services being paid for and be satisfied if not then one has to call it a day and withdraw.
“A lot of teachers have withdrawn from paying subscriptions and the unions can testify. It is not a forced withdrawal but it is an individual’s desire to show dissatisfaction,” said Nyabadza.
Nyabadza condemned the unions for dividing the teaching fraternity and he said that they had emailed all 13 unions in April 2025 reminding them of their duties but they never responded.
“Unions are the ones causing all divisions in the teaching fraternity, now there is no unity. This is clear that the 13 unions are milking teachers’ pockets hustle free without delivering.
“We are saying it’s enough (nyaraiwo) as you cannot even bring the employer to the negotiating table. They should not blame the government but they should blame their abilities. So far we have not conducted a meeting with any union since we emailed them on April and none of them responded,”said Nyabadza.
Responding to Nyabadza’s sentiments, ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure told TellZim News that there was lack of willingness from the members’ side to actively participate in having their matters addressed.
“The Union and the worker are a single entity. Decisions in Trade Unions should be made by the members. Unfortunately most members surrender power to a layer of bureaucrats who then betray them. In ARTUZ we always consult the members to get guidance on how to force the employer to listen to us. We are an organizing Union. As leaders we have no power, our power is in the participation of members. If members tell us to call for a strike we call for one. If they tell us to go to the streets we go to the streets.
“We are servants of the membership. If one tactic fails we sit down and evaluate as a collective. Unfortunately most Teachers choose to join T shirts Unions that are only known for distributing fancy regalia but are not ready to fight,” said Masaraure.
Masaraure said that mases action will drag the government to the table and teachers should stop complaining and join Unions to fight the struggle.
“The government will never be begged to come to the table. The employer has to be dragged to the table kicking and screaming. Only mass action will drag the employer to the table. The history of the workers’ struggle have taught us that there is no generous employer. Employers have to be forced to improve working conditions by the workers. Teachers should stop whining and groaning, they should join fighting Unions and join the fight,” he said.
He condemned teachers who pay subscriptions to yellow Unions but encouraged teachers to team up with them to fight government, so that their demands will be addressed.
“Those who pay subscriptions to yellow Unions are funding their own exploitation. If you subscribe to a Union in bed with government what do you expect? You will get lemons every month end. Teachers should read what Unionism is all about and stop funding government proxies.
“ARTUZ struggles to collect subscriptions because barriers are created for us but we fight on regardless. The fight is not about the money. Our thousands of members struggle to pay Union subscriptions because of known barriers but we fight shoulder to shoulder regardless. We are confident that as soon as more teachers join us and start fighting from our corner we will force employer to address our demands,” said Masaraure.
PTUZ president Dr Takavafira Zhou said unions were also facing challenges of counter unions like Teachers4ED that were working on the side of government.
“It is sad that the employer has created renegade teacher unions like Teachers 4ED and Zimbabwe Teachers for Remuneration whose main thrust is to fight from the employer’s corner and criticise bona fide unions, when they hardly say anything on how teachers’ salaries can be improved. The employer is deliberately underpaying teachers and Unions are trying under difficult conditions to ameliorate the challenges. What must be stressed is that a United Front and collective action of teachers can bring better results,” said Dr Zhou.
Dr Zhou said incentives in urban areas were reducing enthusiasm among teachers while teachers in rural areas lacked the will power to act towards the matter.
“Leaders in PTUZ will not declare social media strikes that have no takers. Teachers in schools must realise they must unite across teacher-union divide in order to deliver an unflinching message to the employer. Incentives have diluted enthusiasm for industrial action in urban areas, while teachers in rural areas assume they are far away from the corridors of power to make an impact.
“In short action by teachers in school is a remedy to underpayment of teachers. Teachers cannot remain to watch a game they should be playing and assume things will change for the better. As PTUZ leadership we are ready to lead, but the best foot forward remains a united front punctuated by action in schools,” said Dr Zhou
