The Zambian National Union of Teachers-ZNUT General Secretary Newman Bubala has condemned the protest by Teachers who attempted to march to State House (the official residence and office for the President of Zambia), escalating their complaints of not being put on the government payroll for over two years.
Bubala said that it is important for the affected teachers to go to the right offices when airing their grievances. He added that the both the Teacher Union and Ministry of Education are aware of the issue and they are working to resolve it.
He said that those who were geniunely employed are going to be put on pay roll and. The unionist further added that teachers have Union leaders and the best way is to report to the labour movement that can speak on their behalf.
The ZNUT General Secretary stated that going forward, Government should be making sure that vacant positions are declared before issuing appointment letters.
Over 2,000 teachers who have duly signed and dated appointment letters have complained that they have been working but not been put on payroll. The affected teachers attempted a protest march to State House to seek an audience with President Hakainde Hichilema after the earlier protest at the ministry failed to yield positive results. Police blocked their protest.
Accusations of corruption in the issuing of appointment letters were reported. Some of the teachers were accused of carrying fake appointment letters, with some investigations at the teaching service commission reported, but no tangible results of the investigations have been made public.
