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NewsDay

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Civil servants appeal to Tsvangirai

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The Apex Council which represents government workers has appealed to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to engage his ministers to solve the impasse. Tendai Chikowere, the Apex Council chairperson, said the government had only undertaken to review housing and transport allowances while seeking a solution to the problem of low salaries. There is no agreement, but […]

The Apex Council which represents government workers has appealed to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to engage his ministers to solve the impasse.

Tendai Chikowere, the Apex Council chairperson, said the government had only undertaken to review housing and transport allowances while seeking a solution to the problem of low salaries.

There is no agreement, but there is a position, she said.

The position is that workers mandated government to pay option one which is the increase of transport and housing allowances.

We proceeded to appeal with the Prime Minister. Sifiso Ndlovu, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association CEO, said they had appealed to Tsvangirai who was Public Service minister Lucia Matibenga and Finance minister Tendai Bitis supervisor.

He said they made the appeal on Wednesday and were yet to get a response from Tsvangirais office. Tsvangirais spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said the PM would not have problems engaging civil servants as he has dedicated most of his life fighting for their rights.

I have not checked on that but one thing for sure is the Prime Minister will not have problems meeting civil servants because he has spent much of his life fighting for workers rights, he said.

On Thursday, Matibenga told NewsDay government agreed that transport and housing allowances for civil servants be reviewed.

I am worried about some people misleading the nation on what is happening, she said.

What I can tell you is workers signed an agreement on February 1. We agreed to settle on cost of living adjustments, housing and transport allowances to give workers relief so that they are not taxed and to improve on what they take home.

But I am not at liberty to disclose the figures because they are personal issues, she said.

Matibenga said some politicians were seeking to gain political mileage out of the civil servants plight.

Civil servants are demanding a minimum salary above the poverty datum line estimated at $538.