via Unions: Government abusing teachers – New Zimbabwe 06/09/2015
A ROW has erupted between teachers unions and the Public Service Commission (PSC) after the state paymaster indicated it would embark on a second round of personnel audit beginning this Tuesday.
In a circular to teachers, the PSC indicated last week that the exercise would begin on the opening day of the third term.
The move comes barely two weeks after the PSC concluded another head-count that led to as many as 3000 teachers being struck off the government’s payroll while reports claimed over 20 000 temporary teachers would lose their jobs.
Rural Teachers Association leader Obert Masaraure said the government is barking up the wrong tree.
“It is clear now that government is abusing teachers and we urge them to find something else to do with their time.
“If we look at such ministries as that responsible for youth, there are people there recruited prior to the elections in 2014, party youths who are being paid by government for nothing but loafing,” Masaraure said.
His sentiments were echoed by an angry Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe.
“We are disturbed by the latest move from the Public Service Commission and wonder if Dokora is aware of what is happening.
“We also wonder whether the PSC is aware that this coming term is the most important and their so called second head-count is likely to disrupt examination classes.
“Our view is that the PSC has realised that the figures it has been branding around are fake and that is why it wants to start afresh,” said Majongwe.
Government has indicated it would want to rationalise its bloated civil service that is reportedly gobbling at least 83% of the national budget in salaries as part of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported Staff Monitored Program to resuscitate the country’s ailing economy.
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