Teachers across Zimbabwe have received a major boost after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government unveiled a US$500,000 empowerment package under the Presidential Teachers Empowerment Fund. The announcement was made on Saturday during the Teachers for Economic Development (Teachers for ED) Conference held in Harare, where educators from all ten provinces gathered to discuss their role in national development and the need for greater economic inclusion.
The revolving fund will be distributed evenly across the country, with each of the ten provinces receiving US$50,000. According to officials, the money is intended to support teachers in establishing income-generating projects that will improve their livelihoods while also contributing to local economic activity.
Presidential Investment Advisor, Dr. Paul Tungwarara, said the fund reflects government’s recognition of the critical role teachers play in shaping the country’s future. “Today we are here to celebrate and empower teachers. The Presidential Empowerment Programme is designed with Educators in mind. Every one of us was taught by a Instructor, and it was that same teacher who opened our minds to the world of knowledge and possibilities. Teachers are the architects of the future, but for too long the architects themselves have been overlooked. Through this revolving fund, government is making a direct investment in their welfare and in their economic participation,” he said.
The scheme is not a handout but a revolving facility, meaning recipients are expected to put the funds into viable projects and eventually repay so that others can benefit as well. This model has been used in earlier empowerment drives targeting women, youths, and war veterans, with the intention of creating sustainable and self-replenishing funding mechanisms rather than one-off disbursements.
ZANU PF National Political Commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha, who also addressed the conference, underscored the need for accountability and discipline in the handling of the money. He revealed that a monitoring and evaluation committee has been established to ensure that resources reach the intended beneficiaries and are used strictly for approved purposes. “This fund is meant to be seed capital for teachers so they can venture into productive projects. It must not be squandered or diverted. You must ensure that it benefits all teachers and that it grows over time,” he said.
The initiative was warmly received by educators, many of whom said it represented a rare opportunity to improve their financial standing beyond the classroom. Teachers for ED National Chairperson, Mr. Ropafadzo Matemavi, described the programme as a step towards empowering teachers to participate meaningfully in the mainstream economy. “Our Educators under Teachers for ED have been engaging in ideological training at the Chitepo School of Ideology, where we learn about the importance of decolonising the mind and taking charge of our own development. This revolving fund will be a practical tool for us to sustain projects that uplift our profession and communities,” he said.
Teachers Receive US$500,000 Under Presidential Empowerment Fund
To complement the fund, the Educators for Economic Development organisation also received 12 vehicles from the government to enhance its mobility, coordination, and ability to implement projects across different provinces. Organisers said the vehicles would improve logistical efficiency in mobilising members and supervising economic initiatives.
Speakers at the conference repeatedly stressed that teachers are not only educators but also potential entrepreneurs and community leaders whose contributions extend far beyond the classroom. By equipping them with financial resources and organisational tools, the government hopes to harness their potential in driving grassroots development.
The empowerment drive comes at a time when Educators in Zimbabwe have long complained about low salaries and deteriorating working conditions. Although the initiative is not a direct salary increase, many believe that by enabling teachers to engage in supplementary projects, it could help ease financial pressures and motivate them to remain committed to the profession.
For some educators, the fund represents recognition after years of being sidelined in national empowerment programmes. Teachers had previously watched similar initiatives benefit youths, women, and war veterans, while their own demands for improved welfare went largely unaddressed. Saturday’s launch, therefore, was described by participants as both symbolic and practical, showing that teachers are finally being brought into the fold of government-sponsored empowerment schemes.
Observers note that the success of the programme will depend on how effectively the money is managed and whether Educators are able to develop sustainable businesses from it. Mismanagement or poor oversight could quickly erode the revolving nature of the fund. However, if properly implemented, the scheme could not only transform the economic well-being of educators but also set a model for future empowerment interventions.
The Teachers for ED Conference ended with calls for unity and responsibility among beneficiaries. Government officials pledged to continue supporting the teaching profession through both policy and practical initiatives, while teachers vowed to channel the new resources into projects that will uplift families, communities, and the education sector itself.
With US$500,000 now allocated and oversight structures in place, all eyes will be on how Zimbabwe’s Instructors turn the opportunity into tangible results in the months and years ahead.
Source- ZBC
