mercy

"No, I'm not at school," Mercy says with a bitter laugh. She teaches Shona at a local college. "At Chancellor (a primary school) the parents agreed to pay (in forex, she means). The teachers are getting their 300 US each now. At least they've got that."

"But our students wouldn't pay so we're not going."

"Anyway," Mercy says. "The prime minister (she says this delicately) is meeting the education minister today."

Zimbabwe's teachers want 2,300 US each per month, which is just about equivalent to Mugabe's salary (27,000 US per year). They've been getting the equivalent of around 3 US per month up till now. There is some offer of aid (from UNICEF and USAID, so the rumour goes). But can it stretch to 2,300 US for every government teacher in the country for the next few what will it be -- months? years? And what about the other civil servants: nurses, doctors, soldiers who are also clamouring for hard cash and lots of it?

Mercy - who bears more than a passing resemblance to deputy president Joyce Mujuru -- has great faith in 'Coltart', (lawyer David Coltart, the new education minister, also referred to by my mother-in-law as the 'racing driver one'). "The NGOs offered the Other Government money to pay the salaries and they said no," she says with disgust.

"But this Coltart, he says "We have so many friends who are willing to help us." I think he will sort something out."

Update: Coltart on Wednesday admitted government was "broke" and offered teachers 100 US cash each per month. Most refused to accept.