/ 28 January 2009

Zim’s children idle as schools buckle under crisis

Like an orchestra without a conductor — this is how mother Sharon Mpofu describes Zimbabwe’s once proud education system, now in tatters as a political crisis rages around the country’s children.

While parents and children around the region proudly geared up for a new school year, many new textbooks in Zimbabwe remain crisp and unused as Mpofu and other weary parents didn’t even bother to send their children to class.

”Why bother myself when there are no teachers. It’s like having an orchestra without a conductor,” she said. ”If I could afford it, I could be sending my children to private schools or be engaging a private tutor at my home.”

Getting the school year off the ground in Zimbabwe has been a rocky affair, as teachers launched straight into a strike over their salaries, some of which are now worth a mere US$3 a month due to galloping inflation.

While children were turned away from some schools, others milled around playing games or waited hopefully in classrooms.

Many youngsters still seemed jovial at the prospect of starting school this week, while older children hung their heads in despair at the prospect of another term without teachers.

Nearly 80% of the country’s remaining teachers heeded the call to strike, said Raymond Majongwe, head of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).

Many Zimbabwean teachers have fled to neighbouring countries in recent years because of the low salaries.

”Teachers are sending a clear message that we are suffering. The government must start engaging us positively,” Majongwe said.

That may be difficult as Zimbabwe remains embroiled in a political crisis since failed elections in March last year failed to yield a government.

Despite an agreement by Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe and rival Morgan Tsvangirai to share power, the two have yet to set up a government.

Once a regional breadbasket, Zimbabwe has seen its economy collapse in recent years with hyperinflation, widespread unemployment and at least 80% of the population living below the poverty line.

Zimbabwean teachers were this month paid Z$26-trillion, worth just US$3 on the parallel market where most currency trading is done.

Teachers went on strike for the greater part of 2008 and are demanding monthly salaries that would amount to US$2 200 before they will return to work.

Schools have proposed charging fees in foreign currency as the Zimbabwe dollar loses value every day.

At some boarding schools, pupils are expected to bring cooking oil, ground maize, salt, sugar and beans for meals during the term.

The state-owned Herald reported on Tuesday that some schools have entered into agreement to pay teachers in groceries to retain them as the government is still to make a decision whether to pay teachers in foreign currency.

Students at the University of Zimbabwe were also asked to return home Tuesday.

”Nowadays children spend days doing absolutely nothing at home,” said father of three Lawrence Mhida (60). ”Our children will not learn this year if teachers’ demands are not met.”

Differences
Meanwhile, MDC leader Tsvangirai has said he agreed to form a unity government, after his party rejected a deal reached at a regional summit, the Star reported on Wednesday.

The contradiction suggested differences had emerged within his party over implementation of a September power-sharing pact that could add to uncertainty over whether a new Zimbabwean leadership would be united enough to tackle an economic crisis.

Regional leaders decided at the meeting on Tuesday that Zimbabwe should form a unity government next month, but the MDC issued a statement saying it was disappointed with the outcome, raising doubts over chances of ending the political deadlock.

Mugabe, who has made it clear he would set up a government without the MDC if need be, said talks were concluded and a new Cabinet could now be formed.

The Star quoted Tsvangirai as saying that resolving outstanding issues over a government was a ”work in progress”.

”Everyone agrees that — subject to the clearing of all the issues that are outstanding — a coalition government can be formed,” he said.

”After all, the whole idea of these negotiations is to form a coalition government, and I therefore agreed to that principle.”

The 15-nation Southern African Development Community grouping said after a summit in South Africa — its fifth attempt to secure a deal on forming a unity government — it had agreed that Tsvangirai should be sworn in as prime minister by February 11.

But the MDC quickly issued a statement after the SADC communiqué, making clear its disappointment and raising the possibility that deadlock would drag on.

The MDC said its national council would meet to define its position on the summit.

Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper said MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti made a ”sudden U-turn” over implementing the deal.

The signing of the pact was seen as a chance to prevent a total economic collapse that would add to the strain on neighbours already hosting millions of Zimbabweans who fled in search of work.

Others are escaping a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 3 000 people and infected more than 56 000 since August — Africa’s worst outbreak of the disease in 12 years, according to World Health Organisation figures. — AFP, Reuters