Trust Rukwava
Centre News Hub
Masvingo- The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council has hurriedly paid 30% allowances for national exam markers following a hard hitting 24 hour ultimatum issued by firebrand Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe(ARTUZ) for urgent payment after delays.
ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure told this publication that after the petition was submitted to Zimsec on 1`7 December the council hurriedly made a payment though it was paltry.
“WE submitted a petition at 11 am giving Zimsec a 24 ultimatum to settle T and S for examiners at 12 pm they made a 30% payment but this shows that the state has capacity to pay but they just do not want to,” said Masaraure.
He said the Zimbabwean State continues to manage the Crisis of Capitalism on the backs of the working people as examiners were supposed to receive a total of USD 505 which is coming in batches.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTUZ) had sent an ultimatum dated December 16 to the Chairperson Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council demanding examiners remuneration on behalf of the teachers affiliated to it who are participating in the ongoing examinations process.
ARTUZ wrote to raise urgent concern regarding the working conditions prevailing highlighting that there has been a breach of trust.
The grievances arose from ZIMSEC’s continued failure to pay examiners Which ARTUZ described as shameful and protracted?
“The educators who dedicated their time and expertise have been patient long enough. ZIMSEC is hereby issued a firm 24 hour ultimatum effective immediately, to process and confirm full payment of all outstanding allowances owed to its examiners. Failure to meet this deadline will be viewed as a definitive declaration of bad faith, necessitating immediate legal action and a nationwide call for educational professionals to withdraw all future cooperation from the examination body” said Masaraure in the letter.
ARTUZ also condemned ZIMSEC for employing the reprehensible tactic of staggered or batch payments, a process that maximizes financial damage to the examiners amidst Zimbabwe’s volatile economic environment.
“By paying the agreed-upon fees in small, staggered bits and pieces over an extended period, the money does not function properly for the recipient. An examiner cannot cover a significant expense, like rent or a large debt, with a mere fragment of their total due. This is not mere administrative incompetence; it is a cynical strategy. The economy is plagued by rapid devaluation and high inflation. When ZIMSEC withholds the full payment and disburses it in delayed batches, the actual purchasing power of the later tranches is drastically reduced, often to a fraction of the original value,” read part of the petition.
ARTUZ condemned the deliberate practice of batch payment devaluation, which they said is a clear exploitation of the examiners’ labour and a betrayal of the contractual agreement.
“The total remuneration must be disbursed as a lump sum upon completion of the marking exercise, as promised, to ensure the money retains its intended purchasing power.” read part of the ultimatum.
ZIMSEC has also been under the spotlight for not prioritising the welfare of non-resident examiners.
Efforts to get a comment from ZIMSEC Public Relations Officer, Nicky Dhlamini were fruitless.
