The rise has seen ministers earn up to US$2 300, making them among the best-paid politicians in Zimbabwe. “It is unfair. It is sending very wrong signals to the people of this country,” said Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu. “It shows how selfish the leadership has become.”
Apex Council chairperson Tendai Chikowore said they were seeking an audience with the President. “We hope its going to cascade down to everybody,” she said. Progressive Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe has threatened to call a national strike if the hike does not go down to teachers. “Its rude. What about the workers?” Majongwe said.
Zimbabwe raised the salaries of President Robert Mugabe and senior government officials by 200 percent. The rises sees deputy ministers now earning US$1600. Legislators are now be paid US$940 each up from US$400. It is not clear if President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have received similar pay hikes. But they both got a hefty salary increase last year. The President and PM both get a cabinet allowance and a general allowance over and above their regular salaries.
Zimbabwe has seen a series of strikes for higher pay – the most recent by junior doctors. But the struggling GNU has failed to increase wages for the rest of the civil servants, currently on monthly salaries of just $200. There is a reported Cabinet directive to look at a mid year hike for civil servants. Zimbabwe is in the grips of severe economic stagnation, with 80 percent of the country’s 12.6 million people estimated to be living in poverty.
Critics say Mugabe has ruined the economy through 31 years of mismanagement, leading to chronic food and foreign currency shortages. More than 80percent of Zimbabwe’s workforce is unemployed. President Mugabe denies responsibility for the country’s economic problems – which he blames on domestic opponents and foreign sanctions over allegations of vote rigging in the 2002 elections.
Post published in: News