National

Spike in suicides by Zimbabwean teachers raises alarm

Published

3 years ago

September 9, 2021

Admin

HARARE – Even though suicide is considered the 19th most common cause of death in Zimbabwe, a slew of suicides by teachers have shocked the country.

According to the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), as many as 380 teachers have committed suicides in the country from 2008-2020.

The country boasts 136,000 schoolteachers teaching 4.6 million students.

Thulani Maphosa (36), who worked as a contract teacher, was found hanging from a tree at his rural home in Nkayi in April.

He had been dismissed from the service due to the continuous closure of schools due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

“He was always sad after he lost his job. He found it hard to accept that he was now without a job,” 61-year-old James Ndumiso, Maphosa’s uncle, told Anadolu Agency.

Last year in March, 54-year-old Ntabiso Sibanda, a teacher from Magwegwe North suburb in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, was also found hanging from a tree.

The body of the teacher was discovered by two boys who were collecting firewood near the Magwegwe Sewage Treatment plant.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, psychiatrist Anesu Chinoperekwei blamed economic challenges for the rising suicide cases here.

“Suicide is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and we are seeing a rise in the incidence of suicide cases every day. I would like to say amongst the things that contribute to people committing suicide are economic challenges,” he said.

In Zimbabwe, teachers earn less than US$200 a month, a meager amount to keep body and soul together for a family.

Jetro Ntali, a 47-year-old teacher in the country’s Chegutu town, had publicly announced that he will be killing himself to evade mounting economic challenges.

“The money I earn is not enough to support my family,” he said.

“ I can’t afford to pay the boarding school fees for my three children and I even struggle to buy food for them.

“I feel useless at times and so ashamed of myself that it feels better for me to just die.”

With more and more Zimbabwean teachers taking their own lives, trade union leaders are blaming poor wages and the absence of social security for the spate of suicide.

“There has been an increase in suicide cases in Zimbabwe, in the education sector, particularly among teachers and students.

“Several teachers have committed suicide after heated arguments with family members over their failure to meet family obligations, said Takafira Zhou, president of PTUZ.

Based on independent statistics from the PTUZ, every year Zimbabwe loses approximately 30 teachers and six students to suicides.

According to the latest World Health Organisation data published in 2018, suicide deaths in Zimbabwe have reached 1,728 or 1.46% of total deaths.

Another opposition politician Clifford Hlatshwayo said the widening gap between the rich and the poor created systematically by the Zanu PF is leading people to suicides.

“Most of the ordinary Zimbabweans are secluded and exposed to poor services and slave wages,” he said. – Anadolu Agency

National

Zimbabwe’s economy to defy drought odds, says Fin

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Admin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In his midterm budget presentation for 2024 , Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube outlined the government’s fiscal strategy to navigate the challenges posed by the El-Nino induced drought, while maintaining a stable economy.

“The fiscal policy thrust and macro-fiscal framework of the approved 2024 National Budget remains unchanged under the theme ‘Consolidating Economic Transformation’,” Minister Ncube stated on Thursday at the National Assembly.

Despite the drought’s impact, the government’s priority is to “alleviate the impact on vulnerable households and the economy, as well as ensuring that the economy emerges stronger and more resilient going forward.”

Minister Ncube emphasized the need to address the elevated food assistance needs of citizens, while maintaining a stable economic environment.

The introduction of the ZiG currency in April 2024 has brought “relatively stable prices and exchange rate stability,” according to Ncube.

To maintain this stability, the government will implement supportive tax and expenditure policies to increase demand for the local currency, complemented by monetary policy that manages market liquidity.

Looking ahead to the end of the year, Ncube outlined measures to protect the domestic currency and restore macro-economic stability. “Containing expenditure pressures and major expenditure heads such as the wage bill and debt servicing will be critical in order to avoid monetising the budget deficit,” he cautioned.

The re-calibrated 2024 Macro-Fiscal Framework projects revenues of ZiG93.2 billion (22% of GDP) and expenditures of ZiG98.8 billion, resulting in a budget deficit of ZiG5.6 billion (1.3% of GDP).

Despite the drought, Ncube expressed optimism, stating, “The current stable economic environment, together with economic transformation and diversification underway, is expected to enable the economy to register positive economic growth of 2%.”

National

Police refute claims of inciting violence at ZINASU gathering

Published

3 days ago

July 24, 2024

Admin

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has refuted allegations that they had sparked violence at the ZESA Training Centre in Harare, where 44 Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) activists were arrested on Wednesday morning.

“The Police were only called in after violence erupted amongst the ZINASU group,” ZRP spokesperson assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi said on X.

“The violence led to the destruction of ZESA and State property,”he added.

“As a result, Police were called in to come and maintain law and order. This is on record and can be confirmed by ZESA officials.”

The press statement was released after the human rights lawyers and civic organizations took to social media to condemn the police, alleging that they had instigated the violence.

ZINASU reported that the police, violently disrupted the ZINASU General Council Meeting at 10:00 am at ZESA National Training Center.

Most of the students were brutally assaulted and some were arrested and take to Harare Central Police Station.

Hours later, they updated the public that the students arrested were to be released on fine, but President Emmanuel SiTiMaH was taken into CID custody, amid calls for his immediate release.

But the ZRP stood firm, dismissing these claims and emphasizing that their sole objective was to maintain law and order.

“We appeal to civic organizations to verify with Police before issuing statements or raising unsubstantiated allegations,” Nyathi said.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there are laws to be observed in the country and anyone who engages in acts of violence and destruction of property will be brought to book.”

Police did not disclose the whereabouts of the 44 and the ZINASU President.

National

Developing: ZINASU students under siege

Published

3 days ago

July 24, 2024

Admin

BY STAFF REPORTER

Disturbing reports emerging from Zimbabwe, where students attending a Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) General Council meeting at ZESA National Training Center were allegedly beaten, injured, and arrested by riot police.

Image: ZINASU

“Students gatherings have become a taboo in this country, students are suffocating as we speak‼️Students are not free”ZINASU shared on X.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project notes students also received suspicious calls from unknown numbers.

ZINASU a united front of Zimbabwean students, dedicated to the socio-economic advancement of students and the liberation of students from all forms of exploitation and oppression.

More to follow…