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Prince Mukuna Herald Reporter
Civil servants unions disputing recently held Apex Council elections have written to the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, pleading with him not to recognise the new executive.

Cde Mumbengegwi was last week appointed to administer the public service.

The unions, principally the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and Professional and Technical Officers Association of Zimbabwe (PROTEC) are contesting the re-election of Public Service Association president Mrs Cecelia Alexander as Apex Council chair for the next two years.

The Apex Council is an umbrella body for civil servants unions in salary negotiations with Government.

PTUZ and PROTEC argue that the February 22 polls which retained Mrs Alexander were littered with irregularities.

Most Apex Council members however maintain that the elections were above board and every union participated.

In their letter to Cde Mumbengegwi, PTUZ and PROTEC maintained that the elections were a shame.

“May it be noted that among PSA affiliates there is the Government Workers Association (GWA) — an unregistered association that has continued to operate illegally over the years at the instance and blessing of the long-time serving PSA president Ms Alexander who also comes from the same unregistered association,” the unions wrote.

“This smacks of double standards and double dipping at the expense of legitimate unions in the Apex Council.

“It is against this background Honourable Minister that we categorically reject the purported outcome and legitimacy of the current Apex Council leadership, led by a purported chairperson whose presidency at PSA is also highly questionable as she has also outlived her term of office in blatant violation of the PSA Constitution.

“May it be brought to your attention Honourable Minister that Mrs Alexander was elected in 2006 and has continued to run the affairs of PSA for the past fourteen years outside the constitutional dictates of the PSA Constitution as there has not been any elective congress since then.

“Apart from this, PSA is now being run by retired members against constitutional provisions.”