News / National
Police sanctions civil servants demonstration against Biti
22 Jul 2012 at 03:09hrs | Views
POLICE in Harare have given civil servants the green light to stage a demonstration against Finance Minister Tendai Biti on Tuesday to press for higher salaries and allowances.
The Government workers will, thereafter, determine whether or not to embark on industrial action as earlier threatened.
Police spokesman Inspector James Sabau confirmed that law enforcement agents issued the clearance to the Apex Council yesterday morning.
He said police would meet council leaders tomorrow to outline the parameters of the demonstration and security. The Apex Council is an umbrella body comprising all the country's civil servant representative unions.
Demonstrators are scheduled to march to the Government Composite Building, which houses the Finance Ministry, and to Parliament Building.
"The application which was made by the Apex Council on Friday morning has been granted. They are going to be authorised to stage a demonstration on Tuesday," said Inspector Sabau.
The spokesman said police were wary of individuals who could hijack the protest to deliberately loot and destroy property.
"The Apex Council is going to be called on Monday to discuss the way forward as we would not want to infringe on the rights of other people.
"We are aware that this demonstration might be hijacked by people with other intentions. Therefore, we want to make sure there is enough security to spot people with other intentions."
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe secretary general, Mr Raymond Majongwe, yesterday said the demonstration seeks to make authorities understand the plight of civil servants.
"The demonstration will go ahead. We also want to present our petitions to Parliament," he said.
Civil servants gave Government a two-week ultimatum to increase their earnings after which they would consider job action. The ultimatum expired last Wednesday.
The Government employees are demanding an inclusive salary of US$564 for the least paid worker and 15 percent of the basic pay as a rural allowance.
Presenting the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement last week, Mr Biti said Government salaries could only be reviewed after revenue inflows improve.
Local economist, Mr Brains Muchemwa, advocated dialogue between Government and civil servants.
He said authorities should ensure expenditure is consistent with revenue and also encouraged civil servant leaders to appreciate that Zimbabwe's overall economic performance remained constricted.
The Government workers will, thereafter, determine whether or not to embark on industrial action as earlier threatened.
Police spokesman Inspector James Sabau confirmed that law enforcement agents issued the clearance to the Apex Council yesterday morning.
He said police would meet council leaders tomorrow to outline the parameters of the demonstration and security. The Apex Council is an umbrella body comprising all the country's civil servant representative unions.
Demonstrators are scheduled to march to the Government Composite Building, which houses the Finance Ministry, and to Parliament Building.
"The application which was made by the Apex Council on Friday morning has been granted. They are going to be authorised to stage a demonstration on Tuesday," said Inspector Sabau.
The spokesman said police were wary of individuals who could hijack the protest to deliberately loot and destroy property.
"The Apex Council is going to be called on Monday to discuss the way forward as we would not want to infringe on the rights of other people.
"We are aware that this demonstration might be hijacked by people with other intentions. Therefore, we want to make sure there is enough security to spot people with other intentions."
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe secretary general, Mr Raymond Majongwe, yesterday said the demonstration seeks to make authorities understand the plight of civil servants.
"The demonstration will go ahead. We also want to present our petitions to Parliament," he said.
Civil servants gave Government a two-week ultimatum to increase their earnings after which they would consider job action. The ultimatum expired last Wednesday.
The Government employees are demanding an inclusive salary of US$564 for the least paid worker and 15 percent of the basic pay as a rural allowance.
Presenting the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement last week, Mr Biti said Government salaries could only be reviewed after revenue inflows improve.
Local economist, Mr Brains Muchemwa, advocated dialogue between Government and civil servants.
He said authorities should ensure expenditure is consistent with revenue and also encouraged civil servant leaders to appreciate that Zimbabwe's overall economic performance remained constricted.
Source - zimpapers
