Government workers have vowed to resist any moves to reduce or freeze salaries following recommendations from central bank chief John Mangudya and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority boss Gershom Pasi.
Reacting to these calls, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association, Nurses Association, Zimbabwe Teachers Association and the Apex Council told VOA Studio 7 that cutting salaries is not the answer and will be resisted.
They said the government must focus on reviving the economy and ensuring that prices are reduced as most workers are living well below the poverty datum line.
Economists and former Finance Minister Tendai Biti also said they are baffled by the balooning of the civil service from 250,000 during the unity government to about 554,000 this year.
The government has been struggling to meet the wage bill. Labor and Economic Development Research Institute director, Godfrey Kanyenze, said tinkering with salaries will likely cause friction.
Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu noted that unions are disappointed that civil servants’ salaries are being discussed in pubblic without their input.