A social commentator says the issue of COVID-19 risk allowance which has led teachers to down their tools, must be handled by the State President and the Ministry of Education rather than the parliament as recommended by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Madalitso Kazombo.

On Monday the First Deputy Speaker, guided that the leadership of the house should take up the matter together with the Education committee of parliament to find ways of ending the strike.

In addition, leader of opposition side, Kondwani Nankhumwa, said they will start engaging immediately and their position will be made before Wednesday.

But the commentator, Humphrey Mvula, said there must be a serious discussion between the teachers and their employer, which is the Ministry of Education together with the state president, Lazarus Chakwera.

Mvula said: “This matter is about the executive branch of government which includes the Ministry of Education and the president who are supposed to discuss with the teachers together with DODMA so that they can swiftly map the way forward.”

However, Mvula advised the authorities to trade carefully if they want to approve the allowances to avoid giving a wrong picture to other departments who might also come out to demand the same.

Meanwhile learners have bemoaned the teacher’s sit in saying it is a violation of their right to education and it will have a negative impact on their lessons.

On Monday YFM spoke to some of the affected learners from Limbe, Kanjedza and Zingwangwa primary schools who were found just playing around their respective school premises and they all pleaded to the authorities to immediately resolve the matter.