Tag Archives: Willie Malimba

Education, Malawi

Malawi Teachers on strike again over unpaid Covid-19 risk allowances

Richard Kayenda

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) has today resumed the industrial action in form of a stay away in order to pressure government to provide them with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

According to a memo which Maravi Post has seen, the union has says the stay away follows the expiry of a 7 day notice of the intention to resume the industrial action if government fails to pay Covid 19 risk allowances to public primary and secondary teachers plus Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) lecturers in the country.

While confirming the development, TUM Presdent, Willie Malimba, said it is not their intention to resume the stay away but that government lacks seriousness.

“It is not our intention to make the children of Malawi suffer but the government seems not to care about the children or the welfare of teachers in Malawi. We have tried to go around some schools in the country and some teachers are still not working. When you ask why that is so, they tell you they are still waiting for the answer from the government. So, what we are trying to do make sure that the teacher can go there and work happily,” lamented Malimba.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director, Benedicto Kondowe has continued to ask both government and TUM to find a lasting solution to the stand off for the sake of continuity of teaching and learning in the country.

The resumption of the teachers’ industrial action comes at a time when government seems to have paid a deaf ear to the one week ultimatum which the union gave the government to respond to their concerns.

Education, Human Rights, Top News

Malawi teachers to go on national wide strike July 9

Maravi Post Reporter

By Alick Junior Sichali

Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) says will hold a national wide strike starting from 9 July.

This has been revealed in a press statement released by the body signed by its general secretary, Charles Kumchenga and the president Willie Malimba.

According to the press statement the decision has been made following meeting the teachers held on 30th June.

The statement says it is sad to note that despite holding several meetings with relevant government authorities, ministry of finance is yet to pay the salary arrears it owes them.

The communication says it is sad to note that teachers are facing a lot of challenges in the country despite a wonderful job they do.

It has however stated that the national strike which will be in form of a sit in will be called off by TUM once government has started processing the money meant for the teachers.

“We should bring to your attention that the national strike shall be in form of a sit in and that it will be called by TUM once government has started processing money for the teachers,” reads TUM statement.

The statement says all primary and secondary teachers from public schools will participate in the national wide strike.