By Staff Reporter

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has petitioned Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube, for failing to meet his promise to review civil servant salaries this year.

Ncube failed to fulfil the promise he made in parliament during the 2026 budget presentation that government would review civil servants’ salaries in January.

In addition to the salary increment demand, the union has tabled other demands before the Minister.

"The Ministry has willfully ignored the devaluation of Labour. A teacher's salary should not be a "survival ration." We demand a minimum wage of US$1,260 to ensure the survival of our families and restore the dignity of the profession. While global markets fluctuate by 4%, the Ministry has imposed a 40% hike on local fuel. This hike is not only extortion but a tax on movement and a barrier to rural service. We demand the suspension of predatory taxes and levies to bring the pump price down from the prohibitive US$2.17." said ARTUZ.

The Union further alleged that there is an e-pay slip scandal unfolding as to work without a physical pay slip is to work in the dark.

"The broken payroll portal leaves rural teachers vulnerable to predatory loan sharks who thrive on this lack of transparency. We demand the restoration of physical pay advice slips or an automated SMS-based pay advice system so we can manage our lives with clarity. The silencing of the worker which also violates the Constitution is of grave concern. Unilateral salary decrees strip us of our agency. We demand genuine Collective Bargaining through the PSC, giving workers a seat at the table" said ARTUZ.

ARTUZ added that most civil servants were now forced to moonlight as vendors to augment their meagre salaries.