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monthly pension payouts and stop taking instructions from the International Monetary Fund.
The war veterans demonstrated against the minister at his office from 2pm until early evening demanding that he address their concerns.
Minister Biti was, however, not present at his offices at the New Government Complex amid reports that he had sneaked out just before the war veterans’ arrival. The former liberation war fighters were singing revolutionary songs and waving placards denouncing his actions.
Some of the placards read, “Stop Playing UK and US games in Government,” “Biti IMF Puppet,” “Zimbabwe is a Sovereign State,” “War Veterans Want a New Finance Minister” among others.
Leaders of the demonstration could not be contacted for comment as they were making efforts to locate Minister Biti but the demonstrators who spoke to The Herald in separate interviews castigated his failure to follow President Mugabe and Cabinet directives to increase civil servants salaries.
“We are tired of games that the minister is playing. We have suffered long enough from his policies that is why we have come to demonstrate. He is ignoring the President and other principals and we wonder where he is taking instructions from.
“But as war veterans we will not stand and watch while he invites the Americans and the British to come back through the back door, if he does not want to take instructions from our President then he should resign,” said Cde Enos Mangena.
Another war veteran accused Minister Biti of trying to perpetuate civil servants misery as part of a wider plot of effecting illegal regime.
“We know that Biti and his party want people to revolt against President Mugabe that is why he and his party (MDC-T) are dragging their feet in implementing decent salary increments from Government workers.
“They want them to revolt and cause chaos in the country,” said Cde Sarudzai Mapanga.
The war veterans vowed to continue the demonstrations until Minister Biti address their concerns.
Minister Biti was not available for comment yesterday and also failed to attend a House of Assembly Portfolio Committee meeting on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion where he was supposed to give oral evidence on the Mid-Term Budget Statement to be presented in July.
Minister Biti has come under fire for failing to award increases to civil servants as Cabinet agreed. Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said Cabinet had agreed to increase civil servants salaries this month with the lowest earning worker earning between US$253 and US$397.
However, Minister Biti has insisted that Government has no resources to finance the increments. This has, however, raised eyebrows as the IMF has also “advised” Government not to increase the salaries.
Observers have said Minister Biti was not concerned with the welfare of civil servants and want to receive recognition from the IMF at the expense of the plight of ordinary people.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo