VOA标准英语2009年-Teachers in Zimbabwe End Strike After Thre

By Scott Bobb
Harare
20 October 2009

Teachers across Zimbabwe struck for three weeks last month over demands for higher pay, closing schools and causing parents to worry that their children might lose a second school year to Zimbabwe's economic crisis. The country's unity¹ government is coming under increasing pressure as it struggles to raise funds for education and other basics in the face of depleted² revenues caused by the country's economic crisis.

 
Teachers in Zimbabwe strike for more pay
Teachers, like most civil servants in Zimbabwe, have been earning about $100 a month. The power sharing government offered this salary to all civil servants after its inauguration³ in March.

Raymond Majongwe is president of the Progressive Teachers Union, one of two main unions for teachers. He says teachers want $500 a month, but that he decided⁴ to end the strike because it was hurting the children.

"The best way for teachers is to engage, go back to the schools and teach and allow their leadership to engage government," he said. "Then more positive results are going to come."

Zimbabwe's education system has been in decline for a decade due to falling government revenues and an exodus⁵ of teachers. Analysts⁶ blame the crisis on the policies of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party. But the party blames it on sanctions imposed by western countries.

Education Minister David Coltart is a member of the opposition⁷ Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), brought into the government as part of the power sharing agreement between Mr. Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Coltart is sympathetic to teachers and other civil servants.

"The problem that we face, however, as a government, is that our economy is in state of near-collapse," he explained. "Our treasury⁸ coffers are almost bare."

The United Nations recently donated $70 million for school materials, but donor⁹ countries hesitate to subsidize salaries for fear the funds will be diverted by the government.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions groups 350,000 workers. Its president, Lovemore Matombo, says most Zimbabwean workers are in similar straits.

"The workers now know that the economy has started to stabilize¹⁰ and that there should be an increase of salaries," he said. "Should they fail to do that, there is very much this feeling among workers that we should take action."

He says if some worker demands are not met, there could be a strike before the end of the year placing more pressure on the unity government as it struggles to revive the economy.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

3 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

9 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

10 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。