Zimbabwe 'ghost workers' threaten bosses

The Civil Service Commission has beefed up security at its headquarters in Harare to deal with any unruly Government workers who have been making threats after their salaries were frozen in July following an audit into their operations.

A Government official said, "We have had a few incidences regarding security breaches, mostly from people who had their salaries stopped.

"Some thought that making demands and threats would expedite their regularisation. We had to take a deliberate measure to step up our security.

"As a result we have increased the number of security personnel at the premises to quell any problems with those that may want to cause trouble."

About 3 000 civil servants, 2 027 of whom are teachers, had their July salaries docked after a physical headcount exposed their absenteeism.

The exercise also uncovered a few hundred salaried "ghost workers".

Workers who were away from their stations for genuine reasons when the headcount was conducted have approached the CSC to correct the anomaly.

Last month, Government met civil servants representatives to look at ways of paying those whose salaries were frozen while they were away for genuine and traceable reasons.

Civil servants representatives have complained that red tape was making it cumbersome for workers to have salaries reinstated.

Government has directed the affected workers to submit affidavits signed by their heads of departments detailing their whereabouts at the time of the audit.

After this, bonafide workers will be reinstated.