HARARE - Striking magistrates have called off a week-long strike after reaching an agreement with their new empoloyer, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to resume work while negotiations continue.
A statement signed by the Magistrates Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ), the JSC, and the Chief Magistrates Office, instructs all judicial officers to resume work. The decision was reached after a marathon meeting, the latest in a series of meetings that have been taking place since Tuesday.
“Negotiations between the JSC and the MAZ are continuing,” the statement says. “We wish to notify the nation that magistrates, being judicial officers, remain deeply touched by the plight of the general public who have been prejudiced by the impasse between us. Taking this into consideration, the MAZ, the chief magistrate’s office and the JSC are urging all magistrates to return to work while negotiations continue,” read the statement. Justice Rita Makarau, who is the acting Secretary of the JSC; Chief Magistrate Hlekani Mwayera and the secretary general of MAZ, Munamato Mutevedzi, appended their signature to the note.
Magistrates’ salaries range between US$206 and US$300 and want trainee magistrate at US$600 for trainees, US$1 000 for junior magistrates, US$ 1500 for seniors, US$2 000 for senior provincial magistrates, and US$2 500 for regional magistrates.
Senior regional magistrates and the deputy chief magistrate are gunning for US$3 000 and the chief magistrate is agitating for US$3 300. Government says it does not have the money to pay hefty salaries because of a poor performing economy.
Post published in: News