The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) Deputy President Elizabeth Mahiyana says she would love to see teachers earning better salaries and their conditions of service improved, consequently restoring the educators\u2019 dignity.<\/p>\n
Mahiyana said as ZIMTA Deputy President, her focus will be to promote and protect the socio-economic needs and rights of the teachers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a member of AWEN, an Education International committee in Africa, I will also help in advocating for Quality Public Education in Zimbabwe, and of course, as a woman leader I would promote gender equality and equity in the association, making sure that women also take up leadership positions in the organisation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mahiyana added that as a leader who has held several positions in ZIMTA, she is a fountain of knowledge,<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that the ZIMTA member is a “king” and should be given priority in whatever should be done by the National Executive Committee. A lot of activities should be done at the grassroots to maintain and to lure more members into the organisation,\u201d noted the ZIMTA deputy president.<\/p>\n
But Mahiyana is not impressed by the low number of women taking up leadership positions.<\/p>\n
She suggested that female teachers should be trained on leadership.<\/p>\n
Mahiyana, who is the Head of Chimana Primary School in Chipinge with a Certificate in Education and a Bachelor of Education Degree in School Administration, Planning, and Policy Studies, said she initiated a successful Women’s Conference that was held in Harare.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany prominent and successful women leaders in Zimbabwe were invited as facilitators at this conference, and we had international guests who enjoyed the occasion,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my tenure of office as a Deputy President, I was elected President of SAWEN (South African Women in Education Network) and I was also elected the Representative of Education International Africa Zone 6, sitting in the EI Africa Committee. I am the President of SAWEN (South African Women in Education Network) and I am also the Advisory Committee Member in AWEN (African Women in Education Network) a sub-committee of Education International.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am the President-elect of the Rotary International Club (Chipinge) and also a Sub Assembly leader in AFM Church in Zimbabwe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahiyana also went down memory lane reminiscing when she became a member of ZIMTA in 1987, soon after joining Mt Selinda Primary School.<\/p>\n
She said teachers at Mt Selinda Primary School were proud members of ZIMTA and they praised the association for fighting for better salaries and conditions of service.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started as a Branch Women Teacher Representative in 1988 at Mt Selinda Branch, a post I held until 1991 when I became the District Women Teacher’s Representative. From then I rose through the ranks to Provincial Advisory Committee Member, Provincial Women Teacher Representative, Provincial Secretary, and Provincial Treasurer for Manicaland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI then became the National Women Teacher’s Representative, a post I held until I became the ZIMTA National Deputy President in 2018 to date.\u201d<\/p>\n