Civil servants are increasingly becoming 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 after civil servants rejected a staggered 70% increment tabled by the government.
Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) secretary, David Dzatsunga said they are now getting desperate. He said:
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.
Most of what we see is what comes out in the press but they (Government) have never really responded to our correspondence.
Meanwhile, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Paul Mavima said delays are due to consultations within Government. Said Mavima:
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.
Zimbabwean government workers are some of the least paid civil servants in Southern Africa with teachers, for instance, getting the equivalent of less than US$150 per month.