…as mass protests loom in Zim and workers demand US dollars

Harare — Zimbabwe is this week likely to witness a wave of mass protests by government workers if President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration does not strike a deal with labour unions which are demanding a pay rise.

Among the workers’ demands is to be paid at least a portion of their salaries in US dollars as the country’s controversial surrogate currency, the bond note, continues to be rejected by citizens.

Doctors at public health institutions have been on a strike that has lasted over a month and teachers as well as other government workers have threatened to follow suit as Zimbabwe’s economy continues to languish in the doldrums.

The economic crisis has hit workers the most as their salaries have been devalued threefold due to currency distortions, and citizens have grown impatient with government, with several labour unions calling for mass protests.

On Monday, government is set to meet representatives of all its 300,000 workforce in a bid to avert a crippling mass action.

In a statement on Friday, acting public service, labour and social welfare minister July Moyo said he would meet the labour unions to urge them not to go on industrial action.

“This meeting is part of the commitment of government to engage all its employees in pursuit of developing common positions in relation to the improvement of employee salaries and generally resolve any matters that impact their conditions of service.”

The Movement for Democratic Change alliance led by popular opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said a mass strike was likely.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association secretary-general Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe told Business Day on Sunday that the doctors’ strike was still on, refuting a government statement at the weekend that doctors would return to work.