'Mupfumira of acting in bad faith'

THE Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (Zimta) has berated the intended Civil Service Commission survey to determine how many civil servants agree to the stands-for-bonus option, claiming that the exercise would only scuttle the process of dialogue.

In a statement, Zimta, the largest teachers' union, said pronouncements by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Prisca Mupfumira were both "misleading" and undermined the National Joint Negotiating Council as an institution.

"She previously issued a statement to postpone a meeting between government and unions citing other commitments, which have turned out to be a subversion of the process of dialogue," Zimta said.

The union said it had been"dismayed" by media reports that quoted Mupfumira, as saying that government‘s decision on bonuses would be informed by the Civil Service Commission's findings.

"By engaging in this survey, the minister is clearly undermining the principles of utmost good faith in the social dialogue processes," the association said.

Zimta also said Mupfumira's actions demonstrated clear disregard of bona fide trade union representatives in the social dialogue process.

Meanwhile, the union has reiterated that its members prefer cash and not the other options offered.

"We have sufficiently consulted our membership and have been appropriately advised to demand for payment of 2016 bonuses in cash," Zimta said.

Mupfumira reportedly said some civil servants had actually approached her office, saying they preferred stands.

This, she said, had prompted her to institute a survey to determine how many really wanted that option before making a decision, which would be based on the findings.