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successfully argued that it disrupted his wedding plans.
Mr Bishop Mashinga of Nyava Primary School also said he intended to go for a long honeymoon after the wedding.
He won the case at the Labour Court which ordered a reversal of Government’s directive banning teachers from going on vacation leave.
The Government had argued that teachers could not go on vacation leave to avoid disrupting lessons and public examinations.
This was after some teachers had already applied and got approval to go on vacation leave.
Mr Mashinga said apart from his wedding plans, he intended to attend his graduation ceremony during the period.
He said he needed time to make preparations for “such big events”.
Mr Mashinga said he was called by the school headmaster on July 26 this year and verbally told that he should report to the district offices.
He was handed leave cancellation forms at the offices, but declined to sign them.
Mr Mashinga then approached the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe which took the case to the Labour Court.
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Another teacher, Mr Andrew Koronya, said he had applied for vacation leave to build a house at his rural home in Rusape.
He said the task needed close monitoring because of lack of security at the construction site.
The dispute arose last month after Government, through the Public Service Commission directed the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture to “immediately” suspend all vacation leave for teachers.
The directive affected several teachers, with some having already planned for their vacation leave.
To make matters worse, a lot of teachers’ vacation leave had been approved by the Government but were later revoked by the letter of suspension written to Dr Stephen Mahere, Secretary for Education, Sport, Arts
and Culture by Acting Public Service Commission Secretary, Mr Clifford Matorera.
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“To avoid any disruptions to lessons and administration of examinations during the coming term, all vacation leave for teachers has been suspended with immediate effect,” said Mr Matorera.
“As a result, teachers have been allowed to accrue in reserve a maximum of 49 days over this period.”
Teachers accrue vacation leave days at an average rate of one-and-a-half days per month.
At this rate, the teachers accrue an average of 18 to 20 leave days per year and it takes six to seven years of continuous service for a member to accrue the 123 vacation leave days, which qualifies one to go for a full school term’s leave.
In granting the order after an appeal by the two teachers represented by the PTUZ, Labour Court president Mrs Lilian Hove said the directive was unlawful as teachers were allowed to take vacation leave when it suited them.
“The 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents are hereby ordered to allow the applicants (teachers) to go on their vacation leave as has been granted earlier on,” she said.
“The respondents are hereby ordered to stop interfering with the applicant’s rights to vacation.
“Respondents shall pay costs of the application.”
The Secretaries for Education and PSC and the Ministry of Finance were cited as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.
Online Reporter