ECL CHALLENGES TEACHER UNIONS

President Edgar Lungu has challenged teacher Unions to find ways of helping their members to build houses as they retire from the service. The President said this could be done by engaging government and other financial institutions. President Lungu said it was sad to see teachers suffering after retirement despite having worked hard for the nation. He said teacher unions should not reduce teachers’ welfare to salary negotiations only but also ensure their members retire with dignity. President Lungu said teachers deserve to have better accommodation after retiring, hence the need to be helped whilst they are active in the service. President Lungu said his government would ensure teachers were assisted to have a better life after retirement. He said this when Basic Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Secretary General Henry Sinkala and his team paid a courtesy call on him at State House yesterday. And President Lungu called for mindset change if Zambians were to actively participate in the country’s economy. Speaking earlier, Mr. Sinkala said teachers were happy with the eight percent salary increment and other emoluments that government has given them. Mr. Sinkala said those who were objective had seen that government had done well in helping the teachers.