by Derick Tsimba

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has indicated that, following the initiative by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC), to support the joint education and health sector initiative of pressuring Government to pay them in USD, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, (ARTUZ) has also declared its interest to join in the industrial action.  A move that is unreasonable due to the negative effects it is likely to cause on the country’s economy.

Yesterday, ARTUZ reached out to all sister Unions in the education sector and the Zimbabwe Nurses Association to collectively demand salaries in US dollars among other grievances.

Responding on his Twitter handle to the demands by civil servants for their salaries to be paid in USD, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, said Government should not be forced to overspend as the ripple effect will push it further into debt.

“Demanding salaries in USD is unreasonable. We have come from a place where civil servants were not getting their salaries on time to one where salaries are coming in as scheduled. If the deficit is our problem, then asking Government to overspend is pushing us into further serious debt,” said Mangwana.

Government has been making progress on reducing expenditure a move which should not be compromised.

“We have been making a lot of progress in arresting Government expenditure. The biggest bill Government pays is salaries. The current demands will only tank our economy and send us into serious debt eating into the inheritance of future generations,” he added.

Presidential Spokesperson, Mr George Charamba, has said extraordinary decisions are going to be made in the upcoming days to prevent further destruction and loss of life in the health sector as President Mnangagwa has cut short his holiday to assist the Acting President to speedily resolve the issue, Harare Post has learnt.