By ALEX NJOVUBASIC Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Copperbelt deputy director Henry Sinkala has accused the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PTUZ) of inciting teachers to down tools over the alleged removal of extra duty allowance by Government.
But PTUZ deputy general secretary in charge of administration Albert Muyimbe dispelled allegations that his union and accused BETUZ officials of having failed to effectively represent teachers.
In an interview in Luanshya yesterday, Mr Sinkala insisted that PTUZ officials on the Copperbelt are going round schools misleading teachers that Government has removed the extra duty allowance.
Mr Sinkala said Government has not removed the extra duty allowance from teacher’s salaries and wondered why some teachers are spreading false information to the public.
He said Government will soon start paying the allowances to the teachers.
“A technical committee has already been formed and it is negotiating with the Government so that our members can be paid their allowances,” he said.
Mr Sinkala assured teachers that Government is committed to improving their welfare.
He said Government is implementing various polices that are targeted at uplifting the living standards of teachers.
But Mr Muyimbe said his union is not inciting teachers to go on strike.
He said in an interview that BETUZ has failed to represent teachers effectively and that most of them have left the union.
“Yes we are going round in various schools not to incite teachers on anything but we are merely explaining our collective agreement in detail. It is not true that we are inciting members to go on strike, we are doing the recruitment exercise everywhere including otherparts of the country.
“We are negotiating with Government so that it can bring back the extra duty allowance to teachers,” Mr Muyimbe said.
Mr Muyimbe urged teachers to continue working hard and desist from engaging in activities that can easily tarnish the image of their profession.
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