Ministry confident of 100% teacher turnout
THE Primary and Secondary Education ministry yesterday said government was expecting a 100% teacher turnout on March 15 as the country prepares to open schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro told NewsDay that teachers should all report for work in line with the stipulated opening days.
“Government is expecting a 100% upward trajectory of teachers returning to work on March 15. Schools have already been provided with proper personal protective equipment for students and teachers to use as the 2021 learning calendar commences,” Ndoro said.
Ndoro’s statement came at a time teachers’unions are divided over whether their members would report for duty when schools open next week.
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe have said their members will not report for work until government has bowed to their salary demands.
But Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu yesterday said teachers should not mix salary issues with issues to do with COVID-19 safety at schools.
“We are saying let us get support from every corner to ensure that the opening of schools is a success and we should not mix COVID-19 issues with the perennial issue of teachers’ welfare and salaries because the closure of schools was due to COVID-19 challenges,” he said.
“The issue of salaries is a permanent feature which can never be exhausted even in developed countries, and right now, the issue at hand is about addressing the safety of teachers and students when schools open during COVID-19.”
Continued Ndlovu: “I do not think that the other unions will get public support by continuing to advance the issue of salaries at the expense of the learners. I would encourage my colleagues to desist from marrying the issue of COVID-19 with the issue of salaries. Our position is clear, that we should ensure that students get back to school in a safe environment.”
Primary and Secondary Education secretary Tumisang Thabela also told a joint virtual meeting by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, and the Information Communication Technology Committee that government was in the process of upgrading radio and television transmission to areas without connectivity in preparation for schools reopening.
“Plans are in place to provide power in schools through the Rural Electrification (Agency), upgrade and provision of radio and television transmission. We plan to provide schools with internet connectivity through the ICT ministry and to provide intranet digital learning platforms and ICT mobile laboratories,” Thabela said.
She said her ministry was planning to provide learners with ICT devices at every school as well as capacitate teachers to use ICT technologies.
Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe directorgeneral Gift Machengete said network operators were in the process of engaging contractors to construct more base stations.
“In 2021, there are plans to roll out four new such sites and relocate six other towers to new locations,” he said, adding that the deployment of these base stations would allow mobile operators to offer their services in new areas, which would allow better internet access in the new communities.
THE Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has urged government to consider lifting the indefinite suspension on by-elections after COVID-19 lockdown regulations were relaxed last week by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Government has since allowed businesses to resume operations, but has remained mum on by-elections and related processes such as voter registration.
In its latest report, Zesn said there was no reason for the indefinite postponement of by-elections, especially at a time the ruling Zanu PF party is conducting political activities in some constituencies, and at times in blatant violation of COVID-19 regulations.
“While Zesn appreciates the need to take reasonable precautions to safeguard the health of citizens, it is of the position that the COVID-19 pandemic presents opportunities to conduct electoral processes differently, such as conducting some of the electoral processes online,” read the Zesn report.
“Even if processes such as voting continue to be conducted in person, there is sufficient evidence from both the African continent and beyond that demonstrates that in-person elections can be safely conducted.
“Hence, Zesn recommends that, whenever the lockdown regulations are relaxed, the government should also consider lifting the indefinite suspension of National Assembly and local authorities’ by-elections.”
The electoral watchdog said in a series of snap surveys that it conducted last year, citizens decried the need for representation at parliamentary and local government levels.
A lot of parliamentary and council seats remain vacant following recalls of dozens of MDC Alliance policymakers by their rival faction, the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora. “By-elections should be conducted in line with COVID-19 health regulations and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission COVID-19 policy on electoral activities.
“The ruling party Zanu PF reportedly held meetings at the local party’s office in Rimuka in Kadoma central. These meetings were reportedly held during the second and third weeks of February 2021.”
Zesn said meetings were also reportedly held at the residence of Zanu PF’s district secretary in the first week of February in Glen View North.
“On February 19, members of the new Zanu PF district co-ordinating committee met for orientation and on February 21, Zanu PF supporters gathered at the district offices for the introduction of the new DCC and membership cards registration.
“COVID-19 regulations were not adhered to at the gathering. The MP for Bindura North, Kenneth Musanhi reportedly held a rally during the first week of February, at his farm where COVID-19 regulations were reportedly not adhered to.”
Zesn said all the meetings were held at a time lockdown regulations did not permit such gatherings, and health protocols were not adhered to.
THE farmer vetting and contracting process for the Command Agriculture Programme is set to be reviewed in Mashonaland Central province ahead of the winter wheat cropping season to ensure that set targets are achieved.
National monitoring and evaluation teams comprising financers like the CBZ Agro Yields and agricultural experts last week embarked on a fact-finding mission in the province.
Mashonaland Central had 34 000 hectares out of 78 700 hectares under the Command Agriculture Programme.
CBZ Agro-Yields managing director Walter Chigodora said failure to prepare the other 44 700 hectares was attributed to poorly-structured loan agreements, a cumbersome contract approval process that discouraged uptake of the scheme, and late disbursement of inputs.
“The extension workers have the task to start collecting farmers’ details today and on the 15th we must then engage for the inception phase,” Chigodora said.
Agritex acting director Stansilous Tapererwa said he was optimistic that the country would achieve higher yields compared to last year despite falling short of the set targets.
“Some of the farmers were contracted late and they couldn’t reach the target in time, but these are the challenges we are ironing out going into the winter wheat season,” he said.
Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga said she was hopeful of a smooth transition into the winter cropping season after surpassing the Pfumvudza targets.
“We did well in the Pfumvudza programme and private contractors are hoping that combined harvesters will be availed on time so that we do not lose track of the winter farming season. At the same time, we want all stakeholders to engage so as to share their expertise,” she said.
The province surpassed its Pfumvudza target of 26 400 hectares. It reached 31 658 hectares.
Land tilled by private contractors, whose set target was 100 800 hectares, shot up to 177 855 hectares, a major boost to the province’s agro-based economy.