Zimbabwe's teachers continue to receive monthly salaries of approximately US$270 and 4,000 ZiG — unchanged since the last increment in 2023 — after President Emmerson Mnangagwa cancelled a scheduled February 26 meeting that had been arranged to discuss compensation issues with teacher union representatives.
Meeting Cancelled, No Replacement Scheduled
The Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) had prepared a comprehensive set of talking points for the discussion. No replacement date has been communicated. The union said: "Salaries and allowances have been stagnant for too long. The last time we had an increment was in 2023."
PTUZ is demanding a basic salary of US$540 per month alongside sector-specific allowances, a position it says is necessary to restore teacher purchasing power to a level aligned with actual living costs.
Cost of Living Pressures
Housing costs in Harare's high-density suburbs have increased sharply, with room rentals rising from US$30 to US$50 per month. In medium-density areas, rentals have climbed to US$100 or more. These increases have eroded the real value of teacher incomes even further since the last pay adjustment.
The Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (Zimta) said the lowest-paid civil servants remain between 37 and 64 per cent below recognised living cost thresholds. Zimta warned that the gap creates a "retention crisis," with teachers seeking better-paid work in the private sector or abroad.
Silence from Authorities
Three years have passed without substantive dialogue between the Public Service Commission (PSC) and civil service representatives. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesman Taungana Ndoro declined to comment when approached. Public Service Commission officials were also unavailable.
Additional reporting sourced from The Standard. The Granite Post has independently verified key details.
