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However, Public Service Deputy Minister Andrew Langa said the ministry was still consulting relevant stakeholders.
“This is not a Public Service ministry issue only. The President (Cde Mugabe) has to be consulted, so is the finance ministry and the Public Service Commission. It is only after that, that we will come up with an agreeable and suitable position paper.”
He apologised to civil servants’ leaders over Minister Matibenga’s no-show on Tuesday. Minister Matibenga failed to attend to the Apex Council leadership after attending an Inter-Ministerial Advisory Taskforce on Civil Servants held on the same day.
The civil servants’ leaders had waited at her offices for close to four hours.
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Apex Council chairperson and Zimta president Mrs Tendai Chikowore yesterday said Government was not committed to addressing their grievances and downing tools was the only solution.
“We are busy disseminating information and indications are that everyone is ready for the battle,” she said.
“There is no official word from the employer since Tuesday and they will regret come tomorrow (today).”
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive, Mr Manuel Nyawo, said statements by Government that something was being done were “delaying tactics”.
“They are politicians and we know what politicians are capable of. There is no word that will stop us except the news of an increment,” he said.
“The temperatures are high and we have come to the end of the road where there is no option except downing tools. We have waited for more than three years and the political parties’ marriage has brought more harm than good to the public servant.”
Zimta chief executive, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, said: “We are joining the forces and there won’t be any work tomorrow. It’s a genuine strike for a genuine cause.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said a one-day strike would not be enough.
“Our fellow comrades have smelt the coffee, but the problem is the battle cannot be won in a single day,” he said.
“Real battles are won after days of pain, blood and tears and Government will bear the brunt of taking its workers for granted.”
PSA executive secretary Mr Emmanuel Tichareva said their members were ready for the strike.
Meanwhile, sources close to the civil servants’ negotiations yesterday said problems emanated from Treasury’s failure to respond to suggestion from all stakeholders.
They said Minister Matibenga did meet the civil servant representatives and promised to consult on their demands.
“She had to consult the Public Service Commission, Treasury and the inter-ministerial taskforce,” one source said.
The stakeholders met at a Harare lodge late last year where it was agreed that resolutions would be incorporated in the 2012 National Budget.
“The workers submitted their grievances while the PSC proposed that it was prudent to push the least-paid worker to three quarters of the Poverty Datum Line in cognisance of the challenges bedevilling Government.
“This was, however, not implemented in the National Budget, let alone what the civil servants had proposed.”
Online Reporter