Civil servants blast Biti

This article was written by Our reporter on 28 April, at 16 : 08 PM

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ZIMBABWEAN servants have described comments by Finance Minister Tendai Biti that there is no money for their salary increments as unfortunate and insulting, as they had been made to believe that the case is being currently discussed with a view to finding a solution.

The government employees say they will adopt a wait and see attitude till June before they resort to taking action. They, however, say they are holding on to the promise by President Robert Mugabe that challenges affecting them including poor remuneration will be addressed.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association leader Sifiso Ndlovu said civil servants want results on the table and ministers should start to use their brains in finding solutions. “What we want is better remuneration and improved working condirions. No money, so what?” asked Ndlovu.

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Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe ( PTUZ) President, Takavafira Zhou discouraged ministers from issuing careless comments in their individual capacity and described Minister Biti’s statements as reckless.

Minister Biti’s statements are at best unfortunate and at worst insulting,” Zhou said. Some analysts say the utterances by the two MDC-T ministers, Tendai Biti and Eliphas Mukonoweshuro that there is no money for civil servants salary increments are deliberate attempts to oppose President Mugabe following his promise that government will offer civil servants a salary increment by June this year.