Zimbabwe Times
20 January 2010
By Takarinda Gomo
THE pay dispute between the Government and civil servants took a new twist this week when, for the first time, civil servants appealed directly to both the State President and Prime Minister to intervene.
This dramatic action by representatives of the Public Service Association (PSA), the Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), under the umbrella of the Apex Council, followed an inconclusive meeting last week between the unions on one hand, and Finance Minister, Tendai Biti; Education Minister, David Coltart and Public Service Minister, Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, on the other.
In the 2010 Budget, Minister Biti allocated US$600 million for the civil service wage bill.
The unions have given government an ultimatum of 14 days to resolve the salary dispute failing which they will go on a nationwide strike until their demands are met. The unions also rejected an offer of US$122 for the least paid and US$236 for the highest paid civil servant.
School teachers are demanding US$600 a month.
The poverty datum line is around US$500, according to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, which has also said the cost of living for a family of six had decreased by one percent to US$488.11 from the November 2009 figure of US$492.10.
A closer analysis of the above scenario, given that the current revenue collected by Government is at least US$100 million a month, many economists may dismiss the wage demands by government workers as unreasonable and beyond the means of the government.
It is from the same coffers where Government is expected to meet all its expenditure including importation of essential drugs and medicines; fuel, electricity and foodstuffs.
On face value, the pay demands by civil servants may appear grossly inflated but the reality on the ground shows politicians, top civil servants and high ranking military and police officers spending money with wild abandon. So the rest of the civil servants believe the money is there somewhere.
Cabinet ministers have been allocated huge non-salary fringe benefits inclusive of local and foreign travel and subsistence allowances; free fuel and a minimum of two luxury motor vehicles each.
As a result ministers are hardly in the country. Civil servants also see the huge entourage accompanying the President when he travels out of the country and the lavish shopping by the First Lady. They are only asking for a living salary.
Ministers are so conspicuous in local hotels where they entertain their friends and guests. People are watching and wonder why ministers are not living by example by tightening their own belts as well. If resources are scarce, and there is no fiscal room to maneuver, then ministers should also be seen to exercise frugality.
With the Budget now approved by Parliament, revising the figures to accommodate demands by civil servants would be tantamount to breaking the law, according to Minister Biti.
The Apex Council, chaired by Tendai Chikowore, which is negotiating with Government on behalf of civil service unions, did not mince its words in their letter to President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
“The Government offer has agitated public servants and we urge you to decisively intervene in order to urgently address the situation before it is too late. It is in the interest of government to address this matter and we urge you to influence change of scenario.â€
David Coltart, the Minister of Education conceded that there was need for government and the teachers to revise their priorities:
“As of now, I cannot revise the figures. I cannot revise money that I do not have,†he said.
The inclusive government faces a crisis of alarming proportions if the civil servants carry out their strike threat.
This is a Catch 22 situation, which neither President Mugabe nor Prime Minister Tsvangirai has any clue to find a lasting solution, especially if their ministers are unashamedly seen basking in luxury.