Some 5 662 suspected Border Gezi-trained youth officers in the Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment ministry have been scrapped off the Public Service Commission (PSC) payroll, Parliament heard on Wednesday.
Public Service minister Lucia Matibenga told the House of Assembly PSC procedures of appointing staff had not been followed by the Youth Ministry when they engaged them.
Matibenga was responding to a question by Mutare West MP, Shuah Mudiwa (MDC-T) who wanted to know the position regarding employment of 10 000 ward officers without following laid-down procedures by Youth development minister Savior Kasukuwere.
The recruits were suspected to be Zanu PF militia, engaged to suppress opposition parties during elections.
During elections, Zanu PF allegedly used youths from Border Gezi training centres across the country to coerce and intimidate opposition supporters.
In its last appearance before a parliamentary committee on public service, the PSC acknowledged that appointment procedures were not adhered to by Kasukuweres ministry, Matibenga said.
We issued an ultimatum directing the ministry to cease paying salaries to youth officers and the secretary in the ministry was summoned and directed to comply following a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General that the PSC had terminated those positions, she added.
Matibenga said by February this year, 4 044 youth officers had been removed from the list.
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She said Cabinet was currently investigating how 133 youth officers in Mazowe Central were employed despite not possessing a single Ordinary Level qualification.
To date, 5 662 youth officers have been terminated from PSC and entry qualifications into the PSC is five O Levels including English language, except for positions like orderlies where we require a proven minimum of four years secondary education with an accredited examination board, she said.
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