Civil servants are
divided on whether to embark on a full-blown strike after government yesterday
insisted it would not increase its offer of 18% salary increment tabled two
weeks ago.
While Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and
the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) had resolved to embark on a strike,
unions representing government officers and other technical staff have backed
off the threat.
After the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting which
failed to deliver a fresh deal for civil servants, the Apex Council met with
members trading accusations that some of them were being used by agents against
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.
PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said government
officers under the Public Service Association led by Cecilia Alexander was
accusing Zimta and PTUZ of being agents of “opposition and some donors” who are
fuelling destabilisation in the country.
“We are talking about incapacitation here. We are talking
about not being able to send our children to school because we do not have
money. But we are ashamed that some of our members are busy talking the
intelligence language of government, it is bad,” Majongwe said.
Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said teachers
would go on strike starting next week and than no amount of intimidation would
be tolerated.
“What our colleagues are doing is rubbish. Its shows that
they are not membership driven when it comes to labour issues, instead, serve
their selfish interest. We are going on strike starting February 5 and we have
followed the law,” Ndlovu said.
But Alexander, who is also the Apex Council boss was
singing from a different hymn book, saying going on strike at the moment was
risky as their action would be hijacked by political parties.
“We are giving dialogue a chance since the doors for talks
are still open and government said they are looking at non-monetary issues,”
she said.
Civil servants were demanding over $1 700 for the lowest
paid worker but government offered a maximum of $100 pay hike for the lowest
paid worker. Newsday
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