The government has denied reports that Zimbabwean teachers who were recruited by Rwanda under the Government-to-Government bilateral agreement are working under terrible conditions.
Over 154 Zimbabwean teachers arrived in Rwanda on 19 October 2022 and are set to share knowledge and skills with Rwandan educators and students.
In a statement, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said remarks made by some local teachers’ unions alleging unfair treatment of Zimbabwean teachers in Rwanda are untrue. Part of the statement reads:
Government notes with absolute dismay, the irresponsible and unfounded utterances attributed to Mr Tapedza Zhou, the secretary-general of the Education Union of Zimbabwe, Mr Takavafira Zhou, the president of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), and Dr Obert Masaraure, the president of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, regarding the situation of Zimbabwean educational personnel and other specialists seconded to the Republic of Rwanda.
Government wishes to inform the public and concerned stakeholders that the educational skills transfer programme between the two sister Republics was undertaken after careful planning, negotiations and rigorous engagement among experts from both countries.
The statement also said the Rwandan government has facilitated the acquisition of work permits for all Zimbabwean teachers “which guarantees the rights to stay in Rwanda as well as access to financial services”. | The Sunday Mail