Teachers hint they be awarded a massive salary increment or the government be prepared to face a massive teachers' strike as schools open for the first term this year.

According to the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), the employer has started to press panic buttons.

"An advance salary to facilitate our return to work is being mooted."

"However, the decision will dissolve and not solve our problems. We reject the dispensing of pain killer salary awards," says PTUZ.

If teachers go on strike, they join other civil servants who downed tools late last year and the beginning of this year owing to the harsh economic climate that has prevailed for about eight years that is constantly eroding their purchasing power.

Doctors and nurses are not turning up for work. Although junior doctors are reportedly going back to work, the majority of doctors remain on strike for better pay.

Late last week, the state media reported that nurses had received a top-up of $100 million on their December salaries.

Interviewed health workers indicated the money was now reflecting in their bank accounts.

However, it turned out the money is being offered as loans repayable at 5 percent interest. Both doctors and nurses have rejected the offer.

The magistrates' strike which had prevailed for about four weeks is poised to end as they have been awarded a 600 percent salary increment. The developments will result in the highly paid magistrate taking home nearly a billion.

In November last year, teachers were demanding a basic salary of $150 million, transport allowance of $88 million and a housing allowance of $80 million for the period of the first month of 2008.

"Current economic indicators have compelled us to review these demands. We now require a basic pay of $250 million, transport allowance of $126 million and a housing allowance of $150 million," said PTUZ.

The 2007 academic year is ranked as the worst in Zimbabwe's history. Learning was to a larger extent disrupted as teachers numbering above 25 000 left the profession for greener pastures especially to neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. The teachers who remained behind are noted as demonstrating a high degree of patriotism.

"We shall not flinch an inch if our legitimate and minimum demands are not addressed," emphasised PTUZ.

The organisation pins hope on the SA mediated talks in which 'political ninjas' are expected to be tamed.

"We demand the harmonised elections to be done in harmony. Let our schools be political free zones. Learning should not be disrupted by rallies and violence."

"Government's inaction on the collapsing education system is of major concern to all stakeholders. Even the recently held Zanu PF Congress did not make any reference to the collapsing education system," adds PTUZ.

Also last year, power outages disrupted examinations especially in Computer Studies with affected candidates having to be detained for long hours in examination rooms.

According to the PTUZ, teachers received starvation wages and experienced modern slavery.

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