Civil Servants Salaries: Will The Dollar Finally Come?

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

Zimbabwe’s government workers are growing impatient with the lack of a breakthrough in salary negotiations with their employer. The parties last met two months ago and the engagement ended in a deadlock.

Workers rejected a 70% increment tabled by government. Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions Secretary, David Dzatsunga said they are now getting desperate.

“It’s like telling us to carry water in a basket when Government says we are going to table an offer when there is no offer coming to the table,” he said.

“Most of what we see is what comes out in the press but they (Government) have never really responded to our correspondence,” he added.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Professor Paul Mavima said delays are due to consultations within Government.

“It’s actually because Government is consulting internally, at an appropriate time the meeting will be called. I think we are at a very advanced stage of the internal consultations and I am sure the meeting will take place prior to July.”

Government employees recently said they can only afford to go to work twice a week, on Monday and Tuesday.