Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) is planning to shut down schools between 3 June and 5 June 2019 demanding to be paid in foreign currency.
In an interview with bhizimusi.com today, ARTUZ National president Obert Masaraure said under the obtaining currency chaos a US dollar is ideal.
“We can’t run away from US dollars based salaries because our country is heavily relying on imports, prices of basic goods and services are pegged on the market value of the US dollar,” Masaraure said.
“If the government prefers the eroded RTGS then they should constantly review it, based on the prevailing rates on the market. The $US 500 we were earning before this crisis should be paid to our teachers.”
The ARTUZ leader also revealed the organisation’s readiness to fight for wage increment.
“Whether we protest or not our lives in danger,” Masaraure said. “Our children and relatives are dying in hospitals because we can’t afford medication.”
“If we fight we die if we don’t fight we die we will resolutely fight for what is justifiably ours, a living wage.”
Prices have been going up in Zimbabwe eroding civil servants salaries which reviewed for an increase to meet the costs in the past months.
The government has been blaming the business sector of sabotaging the economy by increasing prices with Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga threatening to deal with the “culprits”.
“The government should focus on arresting corruption, investing in production and they must abandon the austerity program,” Masaraure said.
“The government is afraid of the people they lead because they are failing to deliver. They are seeing shadows.”
