ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe’s Government has moved to quell concerns that it is going back on its agreement to pay a 50–76 per cent pay rise to its Public Servants.
Minister for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Sekai Nzenza (pictured) said that while some salaries in August did not contain the increase, all workers would be paid in full this month (September).
Dr Nzenza said the welfare of its workers remained the top priority for the Government and all outstanding issues would be resolved.
She said the Government had made a promise and it would keep that promise.
“All Civil Servants will receive their increments according to the agreement between the Government and the Apex Council of Trade Unions,” Dr Nzenza said.
“We appreciate the spirit of engagement exhibited by the workers through the Apex Council and I want to assure the workers that negotiations to resolve outstanding issues will continue.”
She also said the Public Service Commission had engaged the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to provide land promised for housing for PS employees.
Meanwhile, PS staff in the city of Mutare are being driven to work in special buses because they can no longer afford fares on the privately operated transport system.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Ellen Gwaradzimba said the work of Government had been suffering because PS employees had been walking to work and arriving late.
She said private operators had been charging up to US$8 (A$12) for the journey from the suburbs, whereas the Public Service buses would cost just US$1 (A$1.50).
Harare, 4 September 2019
