May 1st might be the celebration of International Workers' Day across the globe, however in Zimbabwe government employees have come together in protest. This has resulted in a series of strikes. On Friday teachers announced they would be striking on May 8th after the doors re-opened after the holiday. The Zimbabwe Teachers' Association, 44,000-member group, cited stagnant pay restrictive annual leave as reasons for their actions.
"No amount of threats or illegal declarations from individuals in government will stop or intimidate teachers from exercising their constitutional and legal right to participate in industrial job action," Said a statement by the Zimbabwe Teachers Association Monday, addressed to the Education Ministry.
In mid-April, 16,000 nurses were fired by the Zimbabwean government following a walkout that began on April 16th. The strike took place due to unpaid wages, the walkout took place one day after the month-long walkout by junior doctors ended. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga decribed the nurses' strike as "politically motivated".
Zimbabwe's bloated civil service was an attempt to create jobs in the country. This means that the government struggles to meet its wage bill every month. Unemployment figures for Zimbabwe vary widely.
"Politicians need to be more receptive to their demands," said Charles Laurie, director and head or politics at consultancy firm Verisk Maplecroft, "But striking workers need to be careful of settling for unrealistic promises from politicians that are ultimately unsustainable," he warns
Crabtree, Justina. “Mass Strikes in Zimbabwe Trouble the New President Ahead of Keenly Watched Election.” CNBC, CNBC, 1 May 2018,
Aljazeera. “Zimbabwe: Nurses' Strike Takes Toll on Public Health Service.” News24, 19 Apr. 2018,
Great post, Gabrielle. It's too bad you guys didn't re-link your blog to the discussion. The old address wasn't working so many people, including me, had trouble finding you!
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