With only less than a month gone after their pay cheques
were reviewed upwards, government workers are pushing for another cost of
listing adjustment to cushion them from inflation, which is edging close to 70
percent.
Civil servants have demanded fresh negotiations with
government over salary increments as the cost of living continues to rise.
Early this month, government announced a salary increment
ranging from 13 to 29 percent, depending on grades, leaving the lowest paid
worker getting $600.
However, in the last few weeks, prices of basic commodities
have gone up sharply, making it difficult for many to survive, as the local
currency continues to lose value against the US dollar.
Apex Council secretary-general David Dzatsunga said they
want to engage the government because their increment has been eroded.
"Our agreement with government was based on the
situation, which was on the ground during that time. However, prices are
increasing and we want to go back to the negotiating table with the government.
"It is now clear that the salary increment is null and
void. We had agreed that we were going to sit down in June and assess the
performance of the economy against civil servants' salaries. Inflation has
eroded our salaries. We need a holistic approach so that we can find a
solution."
This comes as the government is under growing pressure from
disillusioned citizens over the worsening economic situation - after Mnangagwa
was feted in his early days in office for superintending over arguably the most
peaceful elections since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.
Zimbabweans have, in the past few months, had to contend
with rising prices of basic consumer goods and widespread shortages of items
such as cooking oil.
This comes as cost of fuel prices have gone up, amid
serious shortages of the commodity across the country.
The increase comes at a time when the fuel crisis still
persists, with fuel queues having resurfaced in most parts of the country on
the back of intermittent supplies as foreign currency shortages bite harder.
Zimbabwe has not had its own currency since February 2009
when it adopted the multiple currency system, in which the US dollar has become
the main trading currency.
However, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe recently said the foreign
currency shortages were a result of the expanding economy, which was not
matched by the pace of local production. Daily News
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