Public prosecutors have demanded an urgent meeting with Attorney-General Johannes Tomana to discuss alleged salary discrepancies between them and magistrates.
On August 31 the Zimbabwe Law Officers’ Association (ZILOA) an umbrella body for public prosecutors wrote Tomana demanding a meeting on Wednesday to resolve the matter, failure to which they threatened unspecified action.
However, Tomana could not be contacted for comment as his mobile phone went unanswered yesterday.
ZILOA said it was disappointed that the Public Service Commission had reneged on its undertaking to award salary increments to prosecutors and law officers just like it did to magistrates early this year.
Magistrates are reportedly earning $700 per month while prosecutors are getting $400.
Magistrates are also receiving entertainment and responsibility allowances amounting to $156 per month.
ZILOA members demanded that prosecutors be paid at the same scale as magistrates, arguing they held similar qualifications.
They were also demanding a representation allowance of $130 per month.
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“It would be naïve for prosecutors/law officers to continue working with magistrates in the same courtroom when working conditions differ materially like that.
“Prosaically, this situation is likely to compel prosecutors to take necessary action within a foreseeable future to have the problem addressed,” said a ZILOA statement.
“Does it mean to say law officers have to wait at home until the Bill is in place and the anomalies rectified.
“As you might be aware prosecutors and law officers are currently not happy about this scenario and the camp is restive,” reads part of the letter, signed by ZILOA chairperson Leopold Mudisi.
“The ZILOA executive is kindly asking for an urgent meeting with you, Honourable Attorney-General to assist each other on the contentious issue of salary disparities between prosecutors, law officers and magistrates. The association is greatly disappointed and our membership is already threatening to take unspecified action.”
Sources told NewsDay yesterday other prosecutors in other centres had already embarked on a go-slow to press for a salary hike.
