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Vimbai Chinembiri Chronicle Reporter
CIVIL servants yesterday finally ended a two year-long power feud when they reached a consensus on the composition of the nine-member negotiating team to discuss their grievances with Government. Coming out of the meeting, union leaders said they were looking forward to meeting government for a fruitful engagement at the National Joint Negotiating Forum.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) president Richard Gundani assumes the presidency of the Apex Council, which brings together all civil servants unions, taking over from David Dzatsunga who leads the College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe (Colaz).
Public Service Association president Cecilia Alexander landed the alternate presidency of the Apex Council.
Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said:
“We have finally reached a compromise and we are glad that Zimta has rightfully taken over the chairmanship of the Apex council as it is the biggest union,” Ndlovu said.
“We have had a workable outcome and we hope that in the future we have a consistent process for selection, but in the interest of this urgent issue this was the best outcome.”
Dzatsunga, who admitted that he had stepped down, expressed happiness that Colaz finally has a seat on the negotiating table.
He said other unions such as the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, and Civil Service Employment Association also grabbed a seat each.
“We managed to meet the 48 hour deadline we were given by government. As Colaz we are happy that we got a seat as well because there was an insinuation that we would end up with nothing,” Dzatsunga said.
He also said the outcome of yesterday’s meeting was an important milestone in the history of the Apex Council and the labour history of the country.
“I am sure now we have stopped pointing guns at one another but are now working together for the good of all civil servants,” Dzatsunga said.
PTUZ secretary general Raymond Majongwe said consensus was long overdue.
“We are not happy, we are very frustrated as this is a decision we could have come to a long time ago,” Majongwe said.
He it was now time to move on and that government has to fulfill the promises it made to its workers.
Majongwe also said “bigger’ unions needed to be taught a lesson that all unions in Zimbabwe were equal adding that the experience should be a lesson for civil servants to bury petty differences.
The team of negotiators comprise Gundani (Zimta), Ndlovu (Zimta), Alexander (PSA), Majongwe (PTUZ), Emmanuel Nyawo (TUZ), Dzatsunga (Colaz), Masimba Kadzimu (CSEA), Rumbidzai Matare (PROTEC) and Emmanuel Tichareba (PSA)
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