10 January 2021
By Robson (Nikita) Chere
The recent amplified assault on the teaching profession in Zimbabwe is a genuine cause for worry as we have entered the new year, already 2021 was appearing gloomy and dark after a horrific 2020 that was characterized by state sponsored violence towards political social and economic activists, salaries that fell way below the poverty datum line, unsafe working conditions especially during a time when Covid19 is wrecking- havoc. The regime in Zimbabwe is exhibiting a deadly and suicidal character towards the welfare of teachers in Zimbabwe, not only are they not concerned about the welfare of their employees but they are displaying an attitude that can only be defined along the patterns of wanting to see the country collapse under the weight of poverty and lack of progress. It is clear for all to see that the year 2020 capped a very difficult decade for teachers in Zimbabwe, the profession has lost value not only in the eyes of society but in all essence the dignity and character of the profession has been eroded. It has now become a crime to demand a living wage in Zimbabwe as evidenced by the response of the state on Trade Union Leaders and all dissenting voices that are being crushed ruthlessly everyday for daring to speak out against any form of injustice as has been highlighted in the recently launched Justice and Labour Index by the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe ,the incarceration of Sheila Chisirimunhu defines madness on a very grand scale and defies common sense. Zimbabwe has now become a fully fledged dictatorship were human rights and worker rights are no longer a concern of the government and are violated with serious impunity that one would be forgiven to think that Zimbabwe is still stuck in the days of mon