No June pay rise for civil servants

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE AND RUTENDO MAWERE THE government has ruled out any salary increment for civil servants this month as promised by Zanu PF officials with the Minister of Public Service Eliphas Mukonoweshuro only expected to make an announcement on the emotive issue two weeks from now. State media reported that government workers would get an increment this month after President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara reportedly ordered Finance minister Tendai Biti to release the money for the review. But Mukonoweshuro told The Standard on Friday that government was broke and could not sustain a higher wage bill at the moment. He said the political posturing by Zanu PF and Mugabe on the salaries was not helping matters. Mukonoweshuro also advised civil servants to refrain from politicising their fight for better working conditions. “People should not rely on speculation, if there is an increment I will make an announcement,” he said. “Government does not get money instantly, there are certain procedures followed. Inside a fortnight I will be announcing certain processes, people have to be patient, anxiety won’t increase their bank balances.” However, the minister hinted that when the salary increment is decided, it would be very significant. “For teachers it’s going to be some difference, though I can’t give you a figure,” he said. Masimba Kadzimu, the Public Service Association vice-president accused politicians from across the divide of politicising their fight for better pay. “The two parties (MDC-T and Zanu PF) are sacrificing us,” said Kadzimu, who is also the president of the Civil Service Employees Association. “No ministry has the power to defy a cabinet decision, if Biti had been given money to increase our salaries and defied cabinet why can’t they arrest him then? People should read between the lines.” Civil servants earn between US$150 and US$200 per month. Unions have been demanding that their salaries be raised to above the poverty datum line, estimated at US$502.