TEACHERS ORGANISE FUNDRAISING STOKVEL

Teachers at Lobengula Primary School in Mzilikazi surbub are set to hold a fundraising cocktail in Mzilikazi surbub. The stokvel is slated for the 13-14th of June 2009.
“We have organized this event in order to realise extra income and augment our paltry salaries,” said Mr. Simon Mbedzi, a teacher at the school and Fundraising Committee Chairperson.
In a snap survey, most residents expressed disgust at this move by teachers.
“I expect teachers to lead by example,” said Mr. Nkosana Moyo, a parent and guardian. “What values are they teaching our children and society in general by hosting a shebeen? There are better ways of fundraising- I call upon residents of Mzilikazi to boycott this unholy and filthy event.”
All civil servants in Zimbabwe, irrespective of their job title are earning a monthly salary of US$100. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has pegged the family basket at US475 for the month of May 2009.
The Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Senator David Coltart recently announced that schools were at liberty to raise extra funds through the School Development Committees, in a move widely viewed as a green light sanctioning schools to remunerate their own staff members.
Lobengula Primary School has already notified parents of a US$3.50 special levy which will go towards the payment of teachers’ salaries. However, it still remains to be seen whether parents and guardians will pay the levy, since a similar move at Mzilikazi High School which is located in the same surbub was met with resistance from parents and guardians.
Stokvelas are popular in high density surbubs, and are characterized by the illegal trade in liquor. The practice is illegal and is equated to the concept of shebeens which are also popular in the high density surbubs. The main difference between a shebeen and a stokvel is that activities at a shebeen are low key with music played at low volume and admission into the premises reserved. The opposite is true about stokvelas.