Harare- The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has said their members will not be able to report for duty ahead of schools opening tomorrow (Tuesday).

In a letter by the union’s Secretary General Robson Chere, the Public Service Commission, ARTUZ said their salaries are insufficient to cater for their welfare.

“This letter serves to notify that Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe members are incapacitated to report for duty as from 14 January 2020 till further notice. The meagre salaries are not sufficient to cater for their welfare,” said Chere “We further put it on point that our members shall only report for duty when they are paid salaries at US dollar interbank rate”

ARTUZ said the 97% salary increment by the Government fall short below the expectations of their members.

“The teachers are severely incapacitated since they are earning an equivalent of US$35 per month. The proposed increment by the government falls way below the legitimate expectations of the hard-working teachers. Teachers are demanding a United States dollar interbank rate indexed salaries.

“The 97% offer by the government comes at a time when government services have been hiked by over 500%. Government is even charging some of its services in United States dollars, for example, an emergency passport fee of US$318 from RTGS$ 318. We are simply asking to be accommodated into the national economy” said the teachers

Zimbabweans are facing one of the worst economic challenges in a decade with threats of industrial action from various worker organisations.