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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
CIVIL Service Commission chairperson Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah yesterday accused some Government ministers of arm-twisting the commission by demanding the recruitment of staff to serve under their portfolios thereby further bloating the workforce and straining the wage bill.

This comes as the CSC said it abolished more than 22 000 vacant posts late last year as part of efforts to contain the wage bill.

Giving oral evidence yesterday before a parliamentary portfolio committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare chaired by Chirumhanzu legislator Cde Kizito Chivamba, Dr Nzuwa said each time a new minister is appointed they want to bring their own staff from outside the civil service structure, despite there being a pool of employees the commission could draw from.

“The other day I was ridiculed by President Mugabe that I am the one who is responsible for the bloated civil service. The President said he only appointed ministers, deputies and permanent secretaries and it is myself who employs the rest of the civil service. But the problem is, once a minister is appointed, he wants to bring his own staff,” said Dr Nzuwah.

Details to follow….