Zimbabwe State Workers Agitated Over Salary Increases
Jonga Kandemiiri
Disgruntled civil servants have asked its negotiating arm, the Apex Council, to seek advice from Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga on the way forward in settling a dispute with the government over increased salaries.
Apex Council chairman David Dzatsunga said they spoke with the minister Wednesday who indicated that she wanted to consult her technocrats before engaging in any further discussions on the issue.
The council tried in vain last week to meet with the minister who was said to be out of her office.
The Progessive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe announced that its members, who started work Tuesday following the opening of schools for the third term, will embark on a go-slow until they get a positive response from the minister about the salary dispute.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said their members would be working as usual since negotiations are still in progress.
Studio 7 failed to get a comment from Minister Matibenga.
The state employees are demanding that the lowest paid worker be paid at least $560.00 a month instead of the current $296.00.
Dzatsunga said he told Matibenga that the workers have been unsettled by the salary dispute.
