By Political Reporter- The government has failed to pay teachers’ full salaries and bonuses for November 2024, citing the continued depreciation of the Zimbabwean dollar, known as the ZiG.
This has led to widespread outrage among educators, who accuse the authorities of breaching contractual obligations and undermining their welfare.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the country’s largest teachers’ representative body, expressed frustration over what it called a betrayal of educators.
The situation has left many teachers facing significant financial hardship, as they received only partial payments or none at all, with no official explanation provided.
While other civil servants, including security personnel, began receiving their salaries and bonuses from November 15, many teachers experienced delays or partial disbursements.
In response, ZIMTA issued a statement condemning the government’s actions, saying:
“The omission has caused significant financial hardship and raised serious questions about the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the employer’s commitment to honouring contractual obligations. The ZiG component is a fundamental part of our agreed-upon remuneration package. Its exclusion from the November 2024 payment constitutes a breach of the terms of employment and erodes trust between employees and the employer.”
The union also demanded urgent dialogue on teachers’ welfare, highlighting that the delayed payments reflect a lack of recognition for the critical role educators play in society. ZIMTA added:
“While the omission might be explained in administrative and financial terms, the failure to pay what is rightfully ours feels like a devaluation of our efforts, morale, and dignity as educators and public servants. It signals a lack of recognition of the vital services we render to society.”
Over the past two weeks, teachers have voiced increasing discontent over the government’s failure to honor its commitments.
However, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has remained silent on the issue, further fueling frustration among educators.
Meanwhile, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Finance, George Guvamatanga, recently admitted that the government is facing severe financial constraints.
He attributed the crisis to the 43% depreciation of the ZiG, which has created a “substantial mismatch” between revenue inflows—often delayed by a month—and expenditures that adjust immediately to the new exchange rate.
Guvamatanga acknowledged that this mismatch has severely strained fiscal space during the last quarter of 2024, leading to difficulties in meeting financial obligations, including the payment of salaries and bonuses.
The financial instability raises serious concerns about the government’s capacity to meet the needs of its workforce and sustain public services, with educators bearing the brunt of the crisis.