Workers gagged from complaining about poor working conditions

Disgruntled employees under the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) claim they are unable to voice complaints about poor working conditions while witnessing their superiors enjoying privileges.

Support staff members allege that JSC Secretary Walter Chikwana and senior magistrates have ignored their grievances and even threatened them with dismissal if they speak out against labor injustices.

It's reported that while magistrates and other senior managers received a recent allowance of US$150, support staff were excluded.

Chikwana has refuted these allegations, stating, "There is no truth to these claims within the JSC. All civil servants, including JSC workers, receive their salaries uniformly through the Salary Service Bureau (SSB). Government does not discriminate against JSC employees."

However, it has been revealed that JSC workers have not received payslips for the past three months. Morale within the commission is said to be extremely low, with some employees receiving as little as US$250 or ZiG500.

According to reports, JSC workers from various regions have united on a WhatsApp platform, discussing the possibility of passing a vote of no confidence in Chikwana.

In an open letter addressed to authorities, the workers highlighted their grievances, stating that this month, some employees received salaries as low as ZiG10 or ZiG12.

They also accused the JSC of favoritism in awarding tenders, alleging that relatives and friends of senior officials received contracts, including the deputy secretary's son's company, which conducted a survey deemed unnecessary.

Furthermore, workers claimed that civil assistant clerks of court at the chief magistrate's department were being pressured to schedule court dates prematurely, contributing to a backlog of cases.