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Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter—
CIVIL servants unions were embarrassed yesterday when Public Service Minister Cde Nicholas Goche told them to put their house in order within five days and come up with an agreed list of negotiators. Emerging from a meeting in Harare, union leaders told Chronicle in an interview that Cde Goche assured remaining Government workers that they would get their bonuses this month but could not give exact dates.
They said the minister told them that the continued leadership wrangle within unions was working against the interests of thousands of public servants.
The president of the Apex Council, which brings together all public sector unions, David Dzatsunga, said Cde Goche did not mince his words.
He said: “We met Cde Goche at 9am and he confirmed that the remaining civil servants will get their bonuses this month. He said we should start negotiations for next year and instructed us to come up with an agreed list of negotiators within five days.”
Civil servants have been embroiled in a leadership wrangle over the composition of the Apex Council after Dzatsunga took over from Tendai Chokowore last year.
Dzatsunga, who also leads the College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe (Colaz), said the union leaders were embarrassed when it emerged that their continued bickering was stalling engagement progress with Government.
“We cannot raise a finger against Government. The problem really is with us and staff associations and not Government. The minister told us to put our house in order and the issue rests on us to sort out teams,” he said adding, “We have agreed to meet as workers on Friday to come up with an agreed team of negotiators. The minister exposed us for what we are, a bunch of masquerades.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu concurred.
Said Ndlovu: “It was confirmed that teachers will get their bonus at the same time they get their pay on Monday next week. The Minister dismissed rumours of uncertainty over bonuses.”
He added: “The minister ordered us to constitute the Apex Council and the team of negotiators urgently. He said we should stop bickering so that we can engage fruitfully.”
Ndlovu agreed that a meeting between unions will be convened sometime this week to iron out differences and accused some union memers of being opportunists.
Asked to comment on the possibility of the unions resolving their differences within five days, Dzatsunga said: “That issue has more to do with personal resistance to leadership change. A few in the Apex Council believe the status quo should be maintained.
“I hope reason will prevail and I am keen to see this issue resolved but it is quite difficult.”
The meeting was called at the behest of Zimta who wanted the Government to respond to the bonus issue and rumours that their December pay would be staggered — with normal pay coming first and then bonuses after Christmas.
Expectations are high that when Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announces the 2014 budget, sometime next week, he will factor in civil servants pay rise.
As per tradition, members of the armed forces received their bonuses last month. Teachers, nurses and Agritex officers are due theirs in December.
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