Trust Rukwava
Centre News Hub
Harare- Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has called for better remuneration and restoration of the value and dignity of teachers who have been turned into a laughing stock.
In a passionate speech to mark International Labour Day celebrations, PTUZ Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe, said while the day is often seen as a welcome break from the daily official duties, its true significance and meaning run much deeper than that.
“This day reminds us of a powerful testament to collective action and the ongoing pursuit of social justice, dignity, and fair working conditions for every worker in Zimbabwe, in particular, and the world in general. Workers are the backbone of nation-building; without their contributions, development halts. As the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), we believe that understanding the history of this movement and the need to value workers’ contributions is essential for a country where labor should be respected and not exploited,” said Majongwe.
Majongwe said in alignment with this year’s international theme, the union must address the realities facing the teaching profession.
“The current compensation and treatment of teachers in Zimbabwe are not merely budget issues but are fundamentally acts of injustice and unfair labour practice. Therefore, as PTUZ, we stand in solidarity with workers in Zimbabwe and worldwide to demand a working environment where contributions are valued and protected by more than just rhetoric and political sloganeering.
As we commemorate this 2026 May Day, the theme Respect and Remunerate Teachers: Restore their Value and Dignity isn’t just a slogan. It’s an urgent demand for a living wage and a professional environment that reflects the weight of the future being carried on teachers’ shoulders. It’s a call for the government to respect its teachers by remunerating them with competitive salaries that restore their value and dignity,” added Majongwe.
PTUZ leadership said while dignity is a noble word, it is hard to maintain when pay slips look more like a suggestion than a survival kit.
“By commemorating this day, the PTUZ reaffirms its commitment to a brighter future, one where Zimbabwean teachers are treated as the essential ingredients for development because the teaching profession is the maternity ward for all professions you may think of. The Genesis of Workers’ Day: the ILD has a painful but fascinating history that was shaped by the struggles and triumphs of the working class globally. Its history can be traced back to the late 19th Century when the working environment was associated with growing discontent among the workers due to harsh working conditions, long working hours, poor working conditions, and low wages,” said the PTUZ leadership.
PTUZ’s position on this year’s ILD commemoration is that workers in general, and teachers in particular, are actually mourning the collapse of the working conditions in Zimbabwe.
The Union said the current US$320 uniform base, which is subject to salary circumcision through taxes across all grades, is a classic case of leveling down rather than lifting.
“By applying a flat USD component to everyone, the government has effectively ignored years of experience, seniority, qualifications, and extra responsibility. The removal of Senior Teacher, Head of Department, and other posts of responsibility as graded roles has killed the career in the teaching profession. This is a gross anomaly,” added PTUZ.
Majongwe suggested that as PTUZ, they have always reiterated that to restore true dignity, they need to move towards, at the very minimum, the US$540 basic salary plus sector-specific allowances that allow a teacher to live above the poverty line.
