Teachers in Mabonde zone of Serenje district have gone on strike due to non payment of rural hardship allowance by government.
And District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Patson Sichone, said there was no need for the teachers to strike because government was attending to the issue.
According to a letter dated 1st April 2009 signed by Zone Zambia National Union of Teachers ( ZNUT )Secretary David Kunda, the teachers resolved to go on strike on Wednesday this week.
The letter was also copied to ZNUT district chairperson Edward Banda, ZANIS, District commissioner Stanely Chibwana, the DEBS and all head teachers in the Zone.
Mr. Kunda said in the letter, that the teachers decided to strike because the rural hardship allowance had taken a period of one year to clear despite promises from government.
He said the teachers also agreed not to resume work when schools re-open next term unless the allowances are paid in full .
District ZNUT chairperson, Edward Banda said there was nothing his office could do because government was aware about the delay in the payment of allowances.
He said teachers had remained patient while government delayed clearing the issue despite several reminders.
Mr. Banda said the union had been calling on teachers to remain calm and now they felt deceived hence their move to down tools.
He said while the union would still appeal to striking teachers to resume work, government should show seriousness in the matter and pay what was due to the teachers.
But Mr. Sichone who said he had not received the copy of his letter yet, called on the teachers to extend their patience a little more saying government was already dealing with the matter.
District Commissioner Stanely Chibwana could not be reached for a comment as he was unavailable.
ZANIS/KC/EML/ENDS
This rural hardship fimo fimo is now a pain. ~X(
Ba kafundisha kale ba amba ukuchula. Time to act now..
The hardship cannot be withstood without pay. the good prompt monthly pay is the work of Gen Miyanda. But in Serenje there is a Briton qualified proffessional teacher who is willing to work without pay as a volunteer, The teacher has applied to the Ministry of Education but no one is handling that! as a zambian living abroad I thought that would be a dream oppotunity but please follow up this issue or contact Serenje Technical high school I am ready to give more details please reply
Sinjoko, is the one to blame.
Abakali bakali kulabansontafye iminwe konse uko baleya abo niba Serenje mumfwa….
TEACHERS DOWN CHALKS AND NOT TOOLS