IT is sad that civil servants have had to strike to press government for a pay rise. I would have been striking as well if I was a civil servant in Zimbabwe, especially as the current salaries are far below the cost
of living.
It is also sad that some of the union leaders have blamed Prime  Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who promised civil servants better salaries when he took office just over a year ago. Instead of blaming the Prime Minister, the union officials should instead have politely asked him why their salaries were still low despite
his promise, and I am sure some of the Prime Minister’s answers would have  included the following:
nThe MDC had assumed that all parties to the GPA were honest, and that the agreement was to be implemented within two months of forming government.
nPresident Mugabe condones corruption by senior Zanu PF officials, as evident from his siding with Obert Mpofu who illegally took diamonds from the Reserve Bank which the Supreme Court had ruled had to be kept at the  Reserve Bank while the ownership dispute was being resolved.
nPresident Mugabe spends a lot of money which could be used towards civil service salaries on foreign trips, consuming more than the entire budget of
a crucial ministry like the Ministry of Health.
nMoney that has been paid to ghost workers fraudulently planted onto the civil service payroll by Zanu PF for political expediency could have been
channelled towards improving civil service.
nLand invasions have killed production, resulting in government losing potential revenue from agricultural activity.
nThe continued deterioration of the rule of law as a result of a partisan leadership of the police force.
nZanu PF is refusing to have Zimbabwe classified as a Highly Indebted Poor Country, a development which could enable Zimbabwe to access development
funds.
And signs that the civil service plight will get worse are written all over the wall; what with the Chinese government who Mugabe and Zanu PF had
thought would be an alternative donor saying it will not give any more assistance to Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe has failed to pay off its debts?
What with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe being sued by various suppliers for failing to honour its obligations?
What with the new hideous indigenisation policy which is likely to kill production in the same way as the haphazard
land grab policy killed agricultural production.
Civil servants must wake up to reality and instead of demanding unrealistic salaries, fight the system that has brought the economy to levels where it cannot sustain decent salaries for civil servants and other workers.

Benjamin Chitate
New Zealand.

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