Langa, blasts Biti

By Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge 21 March 2011
Deputy Minister of Public Service Cde Andrew Langa has lambasted the finance minister Tendai Biti for failing to avail funds to pay civil servants salaries and urged him to act on the issue as a matter of urgency.
In an interview a recent interview, Cde Langa his ministry had since sent a proposal to the finance minster of their intention to review the salaries of civil servants to a scale that would see them earning salaries above the poverty datum line.
The current poverty datum line is over $500 dollars for an average family of six.
He however raised concern over the minster’s conduct which he said was more about politicking at the expensive of productivity.
“We are really concerned with the plight of our civil servants. As a ministry we have made our proposals to review the civil servants salaries so that they earn something which is above the poverty datum line.
“However this is being delayed by Mr. Biti's politicking he has the money but he wants to play hide and seek. We are trying everything within our power to address the issues of civil service salaries.
“You will note that the President is also involved on this issue and we hope that minster Biti will see the light any time soon. We only have one head of state in this country and it is disturbing for the finance minster who has the money to frustrate our hardworking civil service.
“Personally as a minister I am concerned about the plight of our patriotic civil servants. We are very much ready to engage with their representatives to find a lasting solution to the salaries issue” he said.
The deputy ministered could neither confirm nor deny that the ministers had been awarded a 200 percent salary increase saying that was not subject to discussion.
“I cannot discuss ministers’ or legislatures salaries, what is important are that we work together as stakeholders and find a solution to the problem we are currently facing.
“The welfare of our civil servants is of paramount importance to government and hence we are working tirelessly to get the grievances resolved. As soon as we get the money and our proposal is considered, we will give them living salaries” said Cde Langa.
The public service is the country’s biggest employer and on average most of the workers are earning less than $200 per month.
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