News Alert
A union representing teachers in Zimbabwe has raised alarm after one of their members allegedly received Z$14,600 as his pension benefits after 18 years of service.
The amount translates to US$172 using the official exchange rate and US$120 using the black market rate, which is more accessible to the majority of people.
Raymond Majongwe, the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) took to social media to bemoan the compensation that the teacher received following 18 years on the job.
Majongwe shared part of the letter that the teacher received from the pensions office and plaintively asked Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube,
The letter that the teacher received advising him of his pension benefits reads in part,
REFUND OF PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS AND TERMINAL BENEFITS
As a result of the termination of your service on 03.02.2020 Ministry of Education, you are due the following benefits in terms of Pension Regulations:
Refund of Pension contributions paid…………………………………….8,521.56
Add Interest 4% of 18 Complete Years’ Service (72%)…………..6,135.52
Total Benefits due…………………………………………………………………14,657.08
Net Amount payable to you……………………………………………………..14,657.08
The above will be paid into your CBZ bank in May 2021.
Zimbabwe’s teachers currently receive a total of 11,000 Zimbabwe dollars, or R1,710 a month, including COVID-19 allowances.
PTUZ secretary-general Raymon Majongwe said, “as far as we are concerned, teachers cannot simply turn up for duty because they don’t have money.”
“You can’t go and sell your goats, your sheep, your chickens to go to your workstation where you are not going to get the same return.
“We are simply saying to the government, we are not fighting you, we are not against you, but give us what we’re worth. We are professionals worth the dignity and worth the respect. We can’t become a laughing stock in the region.
The union leader also said many Zimbabwe teachers have died because of the stress of not being able to make ends meet.
