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Civil servants slam Biti

by Staff reporter
26 Jul 2012 at 06:10hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT workers yesterday slammed Finance Minister Tendai Biti for his utterances in Parliament chiding them after demonstrating against poor salaries and working conditions. They described his utterances as "reckless and stubborn" and demanded an apology from the minister.

Speaking in Parliament on the demonstration by civil servants on Tuesday, Minister Biti said money did not grow on trees and civil servants should appreciate what they were getting from Government.

"Politics is 80 percent of the disease we have in this country and another disease is the assumption that money grows on trees . . . is there anywhere that money grows at Block B at the New Government Building? Do we have a cow where we milk money from at our offices?" he said.

Apex Council chairperson Mrs Tendai Chikowore said coming from a labour party, Minister Biti should be sensitive to the plight of the workers.

"A few years ago he was among the people fighting Government to improve the workers' salaries and when he gets into office he starts talking rubbish," said Mrs Chikowore.

"Everyone is angry with him because we did not go to the Block B to get instant cash but to appeal to a man in charge of the Treasury. Our comprehension on Government procedures is good and the minister should just address the issue in a polite manner."

Mrs Chikowore said the issue of salaries was not politically motivated but simply "bread and butter issues".

"The problem with Biti is that he sees a Zanu-PF hand in our operations but he should know that these are ordinary workers pushing a legitimate concern," she said.

Minister Biti snubbed the workers and denied them access to his offices to hand over a petition outlining their grievances.

The workers handed over the petition to Clerk of Parliament Mr Austin Zvoma at Parliament Building.

Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Manuel Nyawo described Minister Biti's utterances as "stubborn".

"It's clear that we do not have a sensitive finance minister. Suppose there is no money, he should just use proper words than to add salt to an injury.

"We are going to correct that behaviour by voting him out of the Government when the time comes," he said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Mr Takavafira Zhou added: "Government looks for money through him and if he has failed he should just surrender.

"This is the third time that he is posting reckless statements and he will one day pay for those words."

Two years ago, faced with a similar situation, Minister Biti told the workers that he could not "squeeze money from a rock".

The workers are demanding an all-inclusive salary of $564 for the least paid worker and 15 percent of the basic salary as rural allowance.

The least paid Government worker is getting $296.

Source - TC
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