A STORM is brewing at the Anglican Church-run St Anne’s
Goto Mission in Wedza after schoool authorities demanded rentals from the
teachers and threatened to evict them if they fail to pay. It is reported that the school is demanding rentals
backdated to January this year.
According to one of the letters addressed to the teachers
seen by NewsDay and signed by one Venerable Reverend JN Kuwani, dated November
30, the mission school is demanding $200 for rent arrears from each teacher,
within 21 days.
“You owe St Annes Mission Goto US$200 being rent arrears
for the period January 2018 to October 2018. Despite several requests you have
failed, neglected and or refused to pay the aforementioned amount which is now
due. We thus demand, as we hereby do, payment of US$200 within 21 days from the
date of receiving this letter. Failure of which we shall institute legal
proceeding with costs to recover the same without further notice to you, which
we believe is not necessary given the implications and consequences to your
professional standing,” the letter read.
Some of the teachers have since approached the Progressive
Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) for protection.
PTUZ Mashonaland East provincial co-ordinator Tapiwa
Chengeta said the school was making the matter worse by demanding the rentals
in US dollars.
“The provision of quality service begins with the provision
of an enabling working environment. It begins with giving teachers decent
accommodation. In most schools there are housing committees and they discuss
housing issues. It becomes more problematic when the so-called man of God
starts to demand rentals in US dollars from teachers who are being paid in
local currency,” Chengeta said.
“Such acts are driven by greed and other Anglican schools
are not doing this, why this one? We will engage the school authorities and get
to the bottom of this matter. The teachers’ morale is currently at its lowest
with most staff in quandary over what would become of them come January
following the final letter of demands given to them.”
Contacted for comment, Kuwani accused the teachers of
politicising the matter.
“Did they (teachers) communicate that there was a circular
from the diocese issued last year that they should pay rentals with effect from
January this year? I am not in a position to comment on that. However, they are
just ordered to pay $5 per room. Some of the teachers are staying in
dilapidated houses and we want to renovate them. Where have you seen
professionals
refusing to pay rentals? Are they not getting accommodation
allowances? I think this is just cheap politicking with their unions,” he said.
Newsday
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