“The past is only the beginning of the future. The foundation has been laid. The present is the commitment of those who now serve. The future lies where the influence of the past and the present meet in common in the next generation………... And the long march goes on”
(Hopkins R A The Long March, Baxter, 1969 pg 10)
INTRODUCTION:
One of the things workers in general are concerned about is job security and respect for their rights as workers at their places of work. To ensure these two aspects, workers formed into an organisation, which then becomes the vanguard of their interests. Teachers in Zimbabwe have been no exception and their organisation is called the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA)
THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF ZIMTA:
The history of the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) dates back to 1910 when the all White, Asiatic and Coloured National Teachers’ Association (N.T.A.) was founded. Due to the national politics of the time, mainly founded on racial and ethnic lines, Mr Gideon Mhlanga, one of the first South African trained African graduates, while teaching at Mt. Selinda Secondary School in Manicaland Province, founded the Southern Rhodesian African Teachers’ (SRATA) in 1942. SRATA became the Rhodesia African Teachers’ Association (RATA) in 1964 and later, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZITA).
With the achievement of the Independence, teachers had to change with time. Hence the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (ZITA), which was serving black teachers, and the National Association (N.T.A.) for whites, Asians and Coloured teachers merged on 22 April 1981 at Mount Pleasant High School. The merger exemplified the sprit of national reconciliation which the new government had called for and for this magnanimous act the new Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) won the NPA Dolores Peace Trophy award in 1982 from World Confederation of Organisations of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP)
The NTA (or the earlier RTA) had total white teacher’s support and its influence in educational matters was always acknowledged in annual reports to parliament. It helped to start Parent Teachers’ Association in schools to foster cooperation between parents and teachers in the education of children. It introduced the idea of nursery schools to promote pre-school learning as part preparations for school learning. It brought about the Curriculum Development Unit concept to promote the classroom teachers participation in the designing of classroom resource material Teachers’ resource centres became part of this concept to encourage professional development of teachers. By 1951 N.T.A. had also acquired membership to WCOTP.
The influence of SRATA (or RATA) was quite remarkable and led to the following achievements and influence:
1962 - Unified African Teaching Service regulations (Standardising teaching conditions for the many teachers under different responsible authorities) were promulgated.
1964 - RATA was accorded a seat on the National Disciplinary Committee, a position that ZIMTA later inherited
1965 - RATA published its first issue of “RATA Views and Views newsletter” (NTA already had a journal called the NTA Journal).
- The Ministry of Education effected the check off system of RATA members in the Civil Service.
- RATA introduced free pocket diaries and a legal advice scheme for its members.
- RATA successfully negotiated for remuneration for all educators by Government.
1969 - The state accepted to pay all teachers’ salaries.
- Teachers could take vacation leave and sick leave with pay.
- Teaching conditions incorporated pension and gratuities.
- Teachers could be represented directly on the Advisory Board on African Education.
- Promoting prospects for African teachers were improved when they could be appointed to headship or to the inspectorate.
- A number of distinguished men and women led the teachers’ organisation during those difficult stages to make the greater achievements in the social, professional and trade union spheres of educators in Rhodesia / Zimbabwe.
From 1942 to 1959, Mr G.D. Mhlanga was founder and President of SRATA. Its second President was Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole from 1959 to 1961. Mr C. Somkence headed the same organisation from 1961 to 1965. The Secretary General was Mr D.C. Msipa from 1961 to 1972. He was the longest serving Secretary General. From 1965 to 1972, Mr Malaba was RATA National President. The late Mr J.A. Gapara took over in 1972 to 1980. Mr. J A. Gapara was the longest serving President ever since. His Secretary General was Mr A. M. Murashiki, he was known for his charisma and fearless leadership in times of trouble, his dedication in tribulations and foresight in the development of the organisation. His period as a leader of teachers even during the liberation struggle was impeccable. No doubt that the merger of NTA and ZITA crowned the Gapara era.
After the departure of Mr J.A. Gapara, the organisation leadership and its secretary general ship changed many heads and whose impact has yet to prove anything better than the 1980 and backwards. Mr T.O. Mukoko was a transitional President from 1980 to 1981 and his Secretary General was Mr T.G.R. Mhlanga. The first ZIMTA Conference was held at United College of Education on 27-29 April 1982. The late Mr B.M. Mafukidze was elected President and his Secretary General was Mr H Mudzamba. ZIMTA was operating from Barton House, Moffat Street, Harare. ZIMTA later on in August 1982 bought the long awaited ZIMTA Centre at 30 Fife Avenue in Harare.
On one November 1982 ZIMTA employed a full time clerk Ms M Gopoza. In June 1983 Mr P. Mabande was employed as fulltime National Executive Secretary. Unfortunately, the Secretary General Mr H Mudzamba resigned from the teaching profession in July1983 and Mr P Mabande acted as Secretary General up to April 1984. At the 3rd Annual National Conference in April 1984, while Mr. B M Mafukidze retained his post as National President Mr J Chademana emerged as the new Secretary General. The period of 1984 to 1986 saw ZIMTA presenting to government a paper on enquiry into taxation. Secondly in the same period ZIMTA negotiated for Government Medical Aid Scheme to include UTS members. It fell off because Responsible Authorities were unable to foot their part.
At the National Annual Conference of ZIMTA in 1987 at Jameson High School Mr R K Masarira was elected as National President and Mr T M Kuwengwa as Secretary General. Mr T M Kuwengwa lost the elections in 1989 at Plumtree Boys High School to the late Mr V G. Ndlovu – were as Mr R K Masarira returned his post. In 1992 Mr R K Masarira was re-elected President and Mr S M Mahere elected as the Secretary General.
As the ZIMTA membership increased and its operations became more diversified, the Association geared itself to meet new challenges. Between 1983 and 1989 ZIMTA acquired three vehicles, and offset printing machine donated by FSL/SL and modern electric typewriters. In 1985 the ZIMTA Head Office moved to Longman (Zimbabwe) New Ardbennie, because the ZIMTA Centre was situated in a residential area where City Council regulations prohibited office operations. On 1 May 1983 ZIMTA employed the 1st Typist Ms. S. Maravanyika.
The Organising Secretary, Mr. M. Tsvetai Mukanyi was employed in January 1985 and the late Training Secretary Mr E R Vakisai was employed in January 1986 the same year, a second Typist the late Mrs O. Taapatsa was employed. Due to pressure of work two extra contract staff members were employed. In 1987 Provincial Clerk /Typists were employed in all the ZIMTA Provincial Offices.
The ZITMA decentralisation process, started in 1984 was gaining momentum. Employment of Mr D A Chimhini as National Training Secretary was in September 1988 and his assistant Mrs R G Mangota in January 1990. The status of the ZIMTA Provinces Office was further enhanced when the Association employed ten fulltime Provincial Organising Secretaries in September 1992. By 1993 ZIMTA had over 30 employees at both National Head Office and Provincial Offices. These trends indicate the growth of the Organisation.
ZIMTA membership has been growing tremendously from 5 000
members in 1981 to 55 000 in 2001.
