HARARE- Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) leader, Obert Masaraure, has called on the government to increase civil servants’ salaries to at least US$1,200, reduce fuel taxes, and ensure that workers receive payslips, either in print or via SMS.
Addressing journalists on Thursday after he and other ARTUZ national leaders submitted a petition to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Masaraure said civil servants once earned about US$540 per month. Now, teachers are earning less than that.
He accused, Ncube of pursuing policies that he described as “a genocide” against Zimbabwe’s working population”, said Masaraure.
“When Mthuli Ncube and his team came to office, civil servants were earning US$540.
“Now that salary, US$540, has been eroded by over 90%. But today, teachers are earning less than that.
“And we are demanding a minimum of US$1,200 from the government of Zimbabwe, and Mthuli Ncube should be held accountable for that.
“But in addition to that, we are also demanding a disability allowance for our comrades who have special needs.”
Masaraure accused Ncube and some of his colleagues of profiteering from rising fuel prices, which increased from around US$1.50 to more than US$2 per litre in March.
“We are not in Iran, but we are paying more than anyone else for fuel in the region. We understand colleagues in Zambia, and we even travel with their fuel through Zimbabwe.
“They pay a dollar for fuel, but we pay over 2 dollars 15, over 2 dollars 17 for petrol.
“We are saying that is unacceptable, and we are saying to the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa and to Mthuli in particular, suspend all the levies and taxes on our fuel so that fuel can be affordable for our people.
“Our people are suffering. People are spending around 30 dollars a week for transport, some 40 dollars per week for transport, but they are earning around 150 dollars. That’s unacceptable.
“And the cost of living has spiked by over 25%, and we should do the correct thing and reduce those fuel prices.”
Turning to the issue of payslips, Masaraure said the e-payslip portal is not functioning properly, leaving many teachers without access to their payslips and unsure of how much they earn.
He stressed that, for the sake of transparency, teachers should receive payslips. If the government is unable to provide printed copies, he said, it should at least send payslip details via SMS.
Masaraure warned that the lack of payslips has left some teachers vulnerable to loan sharks, who are taking advantage of the situation, as teachers do not know their exact earnings.
