Zimbabwean teachers' unions say independence has failed to improve their lives

Teachers' unions in Zimbabwe, including the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe PTUZ and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe ARTUZ, have expressed concerns that the promises made at independence in 1980 have not improved teachers' lives. Ahead of the country’s 46th Independence Day commemorations, union leaders stated that teachers are struggling with poor salaries, rising living costs, and declining morale. PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou highlighted that teachers are enduring "starvation and loss of dignity" despite their contributions to the liberation struggle and nation-building. He criticized a recent salary review by the Public Service Commission, which he claims excluded teachers and their representatives, leading to reduced earnings. The PTUZ is demanding a minimum monthly salary of US$540, along with housing and transport allowances. ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure added that independence has become hollow for workers who cannot afford basic necessities, calling for fair wages that track the cost of living and economic transformation beyond a "dig and ship" economy. He also criticized the Constitutional Amendment No 3 Bill, viewing it as an assault on the one-man, one-vote principle.