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Mr Sifiso Ndlovu

Herald Reporter
Civil servants’ unions are now preparing for negotiations with a new Government following the announcement by President Mugabe that their salaries and conditions of service would be improved by year end.In welcoming the announcement, the Government workers’ unions that constitute the Apex Council – a body that represents civil servants – yesterday said they were putting their house in order to enable engagement in proper collective bargaining with their employer.

President Mugabe, in his address during the National Heroes Day commemorations on Monday said salaries and conditions of service for civil servants, who failed to get a meaningful salary increment during the tenure of the inclusive Government, would be reviewed before the end of the year.

Outgoing Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga declined to engage the workers in negotiations arguing the Apex Council was not properly constituted.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said there was a need for the workers to agree on the composition of the Apex Council for them to have a consolidated position paper.

“We welcome President Mugabe’s commitment and we do not doubt his words because he has in the past shown us that his heart is with us,” he said.

“As workers’ representatives we must now take advantage of that and come together as one such that we present a consolidated position paper to the new Government.

“The new Cabinet is yet to be announced and while we wait for this we should also be putting our house in order.”