Public Service salary increases due 1 April, sanctions blamed for delay - Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe has told public servants, that the Public Service Commission led by Mr Mariawanda Nzuwa has assured him that all unpaid salary increases that were delayed to be paid as a result of targeted sanctions will be paid by the 1st of April without fail.

Speaking at his 90th birthday luncheon hosted for him and his family by security services chiefs and the Public Service Commission, Mugabe said the public service will certainly pay the salary increases back dated to the agreed date. Mugabe said that he himself as a public servant has also been waiting for his salary adjustments and hopes the public service commission will not fool them on the promised day which happens to be April Fools Day.

The President went on to assure the government employees that as government they will make sure that the workers are duly compensated for the sacrifices they are putting into their work by improving their working conditions. Mugabe acknowledged that the salaries of the public servants are still low but efforts will be put to gradually improve the remuneration. He further went on to thank the government workers for their efforts in the difficult years of 2007 to 2009 when the country experienced its worst inflation levels.

"I really wonder how you survived," said Mugabe.

Turning to the issue of corruption in the public service, the president castigated corrupt elements in the service warning that such elements will be arrested and sent to prison. Mugabe claimed that a minister and a female Member of Parliament demanded bribes totalling $120 000 from a potential investor and assured the nation that these two will soon be arrested.

The President said the minister demanded a bribe of $ 70,000 while the MP demanded $50,000 to get the investor to invest in the country.

"Corruption, corruption, corruption! yatikuvadza, yakuvadza Africa. I was being told that there is this man who wants to invest, and was led to a lady in Parliament and this lady says yes, yes I can take you to more important people but give me $50,000, alright and I will open the door for you."

"He went to another high placed minister and said I want to establish some company, take me to the President, yes but give me $70,000," said Mugabe.

On a different tone Mugabe told the public servants that the government economic blue print Zimaset was the only hope for the country's revival and is reliant on the efforts and commitment of the public servants. He urged the workers to be committed to their work not only to work when their bosses are in site and sleep and relax as soon as the bosses leave.

"Public servants are there to serve the people and the people they serve are their masters," said the president reminding the government employees of the provisions of Section 194 of the constitution which binds the government employees.

"Don't cheat! Don't cheat the people, don't cheat yourself, be clean," said the President.