Magistrates, Govt in pay deadlock

and the Magistrates Association of Zimbabwe met but failed to break the deadlock over the salary impasse.
Magistrates countrywide went on strike on Monday protesting over poor salaries and working conditions.
JSC secretary Justice Rita Makarau chaired the meeting that was attended by chief magistrate Mrs Hlekani Mwayera and MAZ representatives from all the country’s provinces.
The judicial officers are demanding minimum salaries of between US$1 000 and US$3 300 depending on seniority.
After a meeting, which lasted four hours, the parties issued a joint statement saying negotiations would continue until a solution is found.
“As the parties involved in these negotiations, we wish to inform the public that we have met and discussed the issues at hand. We will continue to engage and we will inform the nation on the progress that we will have made in due course.
“We all appreciate the effects the current impasse has and apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused to the general public,” read the statement.
When contacted last night MAZ secretary-general Mr Munamato Mutevedzi refused to disclose the details of the meeting.
He only said: “We have adjourned the talks and we will still continue talking.”

However, a magistrate who preferred anonymity informed journalists that the strike continues until their demands were met.
In an interview after the meeting, the JSC deputy secretary, Mr Rex Shana, said Treasury was responsible for distributing funds for salaries.
“Treasury is responsible for disbursing funds for salaries and that position is clear. It has the responsibility of allocating funds to various ministries so it depends with their priorities.
“However, the treasury was not part of the meeting but we are going to engage them,” said Mr Shana.
He, however, could not shed more light on the finer details of the meeting saying, “That is the official statement and we are not going to add anything, let the public give their own interpretation.”
Asked if the magistrates were going to resume work anytime soon, Mr Shana said that it was the magistrate’s decision to go to work or not.
“We are not the ones on strike and we do not know their position since we cannot force them, it is for them to do what they want,” he said.
Magistrates earn between US$206 and US$300 monthly and are demanding a minimum salary of US$600 for trainees.
When they first threatened to strike early this year, the officers proposed a salary of US$1 000 for junior magistrates, US$ 1500 for seniors, US$2 000 for senior provincial magistrates, and US$2 500 for regional magistrates.
Senior regional magistrates and the deputy chief magistrate want US$3 000 while the chief magistrate’s salary should be US$3 300.
Court interpreters earn between US$147 and US$163 while a clerk of court earns around US$156.
With the justice delivery system grinding to a standstill, there were no magistrate court sittings countrywide since Monday.
For suspects already in custody, prison officers were entering possible next remand dates on the warrant of detention forms.
Police found themselves in a catch-22 situation as suspects they were bringing to court for the first time were being referred back to holding cells.
Holding cells are not meant to house suspects for more than 48 hours, as they do not have the requisite facilities.