Civil servants threatens to sue Minister Matibenga

The civil servants representative board, the Apex Council says it is going to sue the Minister of Public Service, Ms Lucia Matibenga for allegedly failing to recognise the newly elected board as a way of delaying the conclusion of salary negotiations.

The development follows a letter signed by Minister Matibenga recommending the appointment of a new Apex Council board that will resume civil servants salary negotiations failure to which she threatens to engage the old council.

The civil servants board is led by the College Lecturers Association President, Mr David Dzatsunga.

Mr Dzatsunga said they have decided to take legal action against the minister who has chosen to delay the salary negotiation process by refusing to recognise the new board that was constitutionally elected.

However, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) has distanced itself from the development, saying it is in the interests of few individuals in the Apex Council.

ZIMTA CEO, Sifiso Ndlovu said his organisation believes in dialogue to resolve any challenges.

Last week, the Apex Council wrote to Minister Matibenga requesting for the resumption of deliberations on the outstanding salary negotiations and other conditions of service for civil servants.

The council gave the minister a two week ultimatum to respond to their request failure to which civil servants will embark on an industrial action.

However, the 2012 salary review for civil servants seems gloom as series of negotiations since the beginning of the year have yielded nothing.