Mugabe pleads with teachers
06/03/2008 15:29  - (SA)  

Mugabe vows food import rush Mugabe: Price hikes a plot Makoni bid: Mugabe blames Brits Mugabe's re-election 'likely' 'No backlash against Mugabe'

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Mahusekwa - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday urged striking teachers in public schools to return to work promising to address their demand for better salaries.

"Teachers, we understand your concerns and we are addressing them," Mugabe, 84, said at a campaign rally in Mahusekwa, about 70km southeast of the capital Harare, ahead of general elections on March 29.

"But we are against this idea of you going on strike. Children must attend school without disruption. We cannot guess what is bothering you, but you can make your recommendations to us.

"Yours is the noblest profession. There is no engineer, doctor or nurse who just became what they are without passing through the hands of a teacher. You boycott your work like ordinary factory workers."

Teachers in Zimbabwe's state-run schools launched a strike on Friday to press for better salaries saying recent increases were overtaken by inflation.

The government, which gave teachers a pay rise in January, has ignored fresh salary demands.

Zimbabwe's economy has been on a downturn over the past eight years with inflation now officially at more than 100 000%.

At least 80% of the population is living below the poverty threshold, often skipping meals and doing without such commodities as milk and butter in order to stretch their income.

What is this?    Yahoo    Digg  Del.icio.us  Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance News24 on mobile News24 on facebook profile