Teachers' unions in Zimbabwe have threatened to resume strike action, accusing the government of reneging on a salary agreement made in 2024. The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) state that promised cost-of-living adjustments have not been implemented, leaving salaries eroded by high inflation.
This dispute centers on a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2024, following previous strikes. Unions claim the government, led by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, has failed to uphold its commitments. The official annual inflation rate was reported at 47.6% in February 2026, significantly impacting purchasing power.
The unions have issued ultimatums to the government, demanding the honoring of the 2024 agreement. They warn that failure to address their grievances will lead to a withdrawal of labor, potentially disrupting the school term. The government has previously cited fiscal constraints but has not issued a new statement on the specific union demands as of late March 2026.
The potential strike highlights ongoing tensions between public sector workers and the government over wages, a recurring issue in Zimbabwe's economy. The last major teacher strike over pay occurred in 2022.
