adminSN: The issue of salaries is not an individual problem. It is a Government issue that needs collective action. The truth is the Government of today has not prioritised the issue of remuneration and the person to take the best shot at is the Finance Minister (Tendai Biti).
I believe he is the advisor to the Cabinet about issues of income and expenditure. He together with his advisors should ensure that they prioritise salaries in their national budgets the way they do to foreign trips.
Another fundamental problem with the “negotiations” is that they are not negotiations, but consultations. We are engaged in a fixed cake bargaining meaning Government must first articulate its economic targets and after that they give you a limited boundary to negotiate in.
They only take up considerations that they think the fiscus can accommodate and that is where we have a challenge. We cannot determine the size of the cake.
FS: Any solution to that?
SN: The best solution is to create a positive development on the supply side of the economy. It is a fact that civil servants can be best supported if the economy performs much better, but Government should also show some commitment. The supply side might be good, but with no commitment on the part of the stewards of the economy then we have a big problem.
I say commitment because there are certain issues that have been prioritised over issues of human resources and when that happens, it means some people are not taking you seriously.
We have abundant wealth in the country that can be utilised to pay workers, but for that to happen issues like sanctions should get out of the way. Moreover, we must put political differences out of the fundamentals of running the economy
FS: Government has repeatedly told you that it is broke. Can you buy that line?
SN: It is difficult to buy probably because I am not part of the people mixing the dough to bake the national cake. The only issue I have is indicators that the economy is on the mend and has the potential to do better. If that is the case then it should reflect through paying workers adequate salaries.
FS: Some people believe that diamonds can be the solution to problems bedevilling the civil service. What is your take on that one?
SN: That is a misnomer. Zimbabwe does not have one mineral. We have over 70 minerals, but it is only that diamonds have become the latest topical minerals.
We have to look at other minerals like platinum and gold. The issue minerals should benefit the whole economy not certain individuals or companies.
FS: I understand you presented fresh demands to Government during your salary discussions this week. What are they?
SN: Since we started consultations our focus has been the Poverty Datum Line. This is the benchmark we have set for someone who is in the entry salary Grade, which is B1.
We have been informed that the PDL since January has moved from US$538 to US$564 and that is what we want. We are not placing anything new on the table. It is only a matter of reactivating and updating our demands.
FS: Workers Unions recently pulled out of a resource tracking committee Government had set up to inform salary negotiations. Why did you take such a move?
SN: It was a big mistake to enter that committee. The committee’s terms of reference were premised on wrong legal tenets because this is a Statutory Instrument which is a subsidiary law to an Act of Parliament.
We cannot investigate security areas like diamond minefields armed with a statutory instrument.
We do not have the powers to investigate Government functions because in my case I do not even know how a diamond looks like.
We were ill equipped legally and in terms of technical knowledge required. Government wanted to buy time with workers directing energies in the wrong direction, but we also refused to transgress authorities.
FS: You have written to President Mugabe for him to intervene in the salary dispute. Why approaching him when you have a negotiating platform.
SN: These are two different processes. The National Joint Negotiating Council is a labour relations platform that feeds to the political process.
When we approach the President, we know he is the one with ultimate authority of the country and he is the one who chairs the Cabinet where all decisions are made.
You have to understand that we are not approaching him as Zanu-PF first secretary, but in his capacity as a Cabinet leader. With him being in Government for many years and knowing the importance of service delivery, we hope he will give an ear to our problems.
FS: Will teachers be more accountable and accept performance standards if awarded higher salaries?
SN: We have to encourage them because as a professional body we want educators to live up to the professional educational ethics and standards.
Teachers should mould pupils into responsible citizens and not shake from that because they are paid to deliver.
When we claim salaries as a right then we should take the obligation of educating the nation.
FS: What difference has the Inclusive Government brought to the education sector?
SN: We have to acknowledge things have changed. There have been some stability in the sector not because of better policies, but we now have an available Parliament and Government. This means that we have a check and balance among political parties, which is healthy for society.
Everyone now sees the need for education and when one is under-performing in Government he is brought to check by his counterparts in the same Government.
We have also seen a reduction in levels of violence against teachers by political activists and schools are no long being used as grounds for political activities.
There is also labour harmony because when there are consultations between educators and authorities. The frequent industrial actions by the workers have also disappeared.
FS: How does Zimbabwe compare with teachers in the region in terms of salaries?
SN: We are in the medium not the lowest. In Malawi their salaries are US$100, but we are below countries like South Africa, Botswana and close to Zambia.
This is simply because of the purchasing power parity. The purchasing power of the dollar in Zimbabwe is lower that the purchasing power in those countries.
FS: The fragmentation of teachers union. Is it not a sign of power hunger and incompetence?
SN: That is a serious problem. If you go down to the deep root of it you will find that trade unions are not different in thinking and what they stand for, but there are now political machinations behind the unions and some are also in trade unionism for personal gratification.
That is the reason why some organisations have died with their proprietors. When one dies or quits there is no continuity.
Some organisations are formed at the behest of political parties such that they can influence their constituencies and this has also caused this fragmentation.
FS: What has Zimta done for the ordinary teacher because it is said union leaders, including you are busy lining up their pockets?
SN: You see sometimes when you are a leader and you suddenly change your lifestyle people are bound to ask, but it is also unfair because some people enter into the leadership with their riches.
As an organisation, we have championed for many conditions of service that are being enjoyed today like performance bonuses and full maternity leave pay to mention but a few.
For the teachers’ personal benefits, we have lawyers who represent them for free and we assist our members with money and transport during bereavement. We also offer our members loans and we have created synergies with some banks for loans at generous rates.
FS: Many schools still manned by temporary teachers, is this safe for the country’s pass rates?
SN: It is a serious problem that can only be solved by increasing the teachers’ supply side.
Many people are shunning teacher training colleges because of the remuneration and if Government does not correct that many will not join the profession and many will leave the profession.
This means that our pass rates will continue to dwindle and our status in Africa as one of the best will be lost.
FS: What is the future of the Zimbabwean teacher?
SN: I am optimistic that teachers in the country will retain their status as professionals if they are paid what they deserve.
Online Reporter