Zanu-PF using rogue trade unionists to scuttle negotiations - Matibenga

Lucia Matibenga from the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai who is also the Minister of Public Service, said she is only a facilitator not a negotiator in the current discussion for the civil servants salaries and Zanu PF is using some rogue trade unionists to scuttle the on-going process.

Responding to reports from the media and some trade union representatives that she was not willing to engage them in the negotiations, Matibenga said the whole issue of the civil servants salaries and improved working conditions had been turned political by Zanu PF and some of trade unionists who had no interests in the civil servants but were only using the strike issue for personal gain.

"I am a former trade unionist who was a shrewd negotiator but I have since changed hats and I am now a facilitator.  As a former trade unionist, I understand the plight and grievances of the workers and I feel I should be fighting from their corner.  I can recite their problems in my dreams.  But since I am now a Cabinet minister, I am facilitating that the workers' representatives have access to the relevant authorities and this I have done.  But unfortunately I can't negotiate for the workers," she said.

She said the government employees had approached her and she honestly advised them to contact her after making the necessary consultations despite false claims from some quarters that she was avoiding the workers.

"The arena for the negotiations is the National Joint Negotiating Council," said Matibenga adding that the relationship of the civil servants was between them and the Public Service Commission, which is the employer.

"People should not think that I have bags or trunks of money in my office. An inter-ministerial committee is working flat out to solve the issue," she said.

The inter-ministerial committee comprises of the ministries of Public Service, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Industry and Commerce, Finance, Media, Information and Publicity and the Public Service Commission.

"This shows that government is not one ministry but more.  The inter-ministerial committee has no power to expand the civil service budget but to work inside the Cabinet and Parliamentary approved budget.  However, the committee is hoping that something will be done soon to resolve this issue," she said.

She urged workers' representatives and the media not to deceive civil servants into believing that the Minister of Public Service was not willing to engage them over the issue of their salaries.

"I want to salute the workers who are working under very difficult conditions.  Most of them have refused to be used by false negotiators," she said.