Zimbabwean Civil Servants Boycott Meeting With Government Protesting Budget Consultation Snub

  • Thomas Chiripasi
    Sithandekile Mhlanga
Representatives for thousands of government workers said they will only sit down with their employer after studying details of the budget, which will be presented by Biti on Thursday.

Zimbabwean civil servants on Wednesday boycotted a meeting with the government over salary negotiations accusing Finance Minister Tendai Biti of drafting the 2011 National Budget without consulting them.

VOA Correspondent Thomas Chiripasi reported from Harare that most civil servants were angry with the government, accussing authorities of failing to address their grievances including low salaries and poor working conditions.

Representatives for thousands of government workers said they will only sit down with their employer after studying details of the budget, which will be presented by Biti on Thursday.

Reached for comment, Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said he was still to be briefed on the matter since he was out of town when the boycot happened.

But Mukonoweshuro's deputy, Andrew Langa, a ZANU-PF legislator for Insiza North, told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sithandekile Mhlanga that his ministry was committed to improving working conditions for civil servants but was hamstrung by Western sanctions.