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Prince Mukuna Herald Reporter
The Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (TUZ) has dissociated itself from a planned march today to the President’s Office at the instigation of fellow teachers’ unions.

TUZ has since urged its member not to participate in the march, opting for “proper channels” to resolve grievances with Government.

The teachers’ grievances include a salary review and general improvement of service conditions.

In a statement last week, TUZ secretary-general Mr Manuel Chitokwindo dismissed reports that all teachers’ unions had resolved to march to the President’s Office.

Mr Chitokwindo said TUZ does not agree with the idea of marching “as if Government negotiators have shut the doors for conflict resolution”.

“As TUZ, we are advocating for immediate engagement with the employer in order to negotiate and come up with an agreeable ground. The use of petitions and strikes are a last resort in any employee-employer bargaining process.

“The new President, Cde Mnangagwa, has an open door policy. If the negotiators from the Government side are vindictive we can make an appointment with His Excellency and raise issues for his Government to attend to as a matter of urgency,” he said.

He added that: “What makes us suspicious and inquisitive about the main agenda of our sister unions is the sudden formation of a federation parallel to the Apex Council which is the main civil service negotiating body. All along, all labour issues and concerns have always been negotiated through the APEX council which speaks on our behalf.

“There has never been any interaction between APEX and the Government concerning conditions of service, so why should the first stance be industrial action as if the Government itself has refused to dialogue?”

He said TUZ would not divert from its motto, “diligence with patriotism”; and will always advocate for proper, professional channels of negotiation for the good of the teacher and not using the teacher as instrument to further any other agenda. About six teachers’ unions led by the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe are organising the march.