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Teachers demand $2.3m
Caiphas Chimhete, The Standard (Zimbabwe)
April 01, 2007

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=6225

TEACHERS are now demanding a salary increment of over 300% effective at the end of this month, according to letter written to the Public Service Commission (PSC) by their association.

This comes less than two months after the government awarded them a 300% pay hike.

In a letter to the PSC, the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general, Raymond Majongwe, said teachers were "living like paupers" due to the current hyper-inflationary environment.

"With reference to the 2007 national budget as announced by Minister Herbert Murerwa in November 2006, we hasten to remind you that the second quarter of 2007 is approaching," says the letter, dated 15 March 2007. "The cost of living has significantly gone up and our members are failing to make ends meet."

Inflation now tops 1 700%, but may reach 5 000% by year-end.

Majongwe said teachers required a basic monthly salary of $1 420 000, and $420 000 and $540 000 in transport and housing allowances respectively.

"The poverty datum line is well over $1 million and this is what we want to earn as teachers."

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