Both Jubilee and CORD have unfairly politicised teachers’ pay issue

The decision by CORD to hold a political rally in solidarity with teachers of this country is probably informed by the posturing of politicians in the ruling coalition against the teachers’ court awarded increment. It is the government side that first politicized the otherwise legal matter of teachers’ 50-60% increment on basic pay. Immediately the ruling was made, Jubilee MPs started demonizing the pay award. They started portraying teachers’ demands as opposition driven with intention of bringing down “their” government and “their” economy.

It is my opinion that probably the government saw defeat in the legal process and to save face, their political advisers, strategists and spin doctors devised a scripted scheme of politicizing the pay matter. Their aim was to eventually defeat the award using political means which include whipping up public emotions and fear of the unknown in terms of economic consequences.