The Standard
Letter to the editor
12 April 2010
Allow me to tell the world that the Public Service Commission of Zimbabwe (PSC) is among the most cruel employers in the country. This view is derived from my experiences as a victim of some of the unfair practices it commits. Psychological wounds are more difficult to heal than physical ones.
Right now the PSC is reportedly harbouring over 10 000 ghost workers alongside the suffering and underpaid genuine civil servants. In the past the communication revolution ushered in an abundance of cellphones and lines. Sadly, the poor civil servant of Zimbabwe could not afford the exorbitant prices of the gadgets and lines. The PSC, which is strategically placed as an arm of government, could not lobby NetOne to arrange easy terms for civil servants to buy them.
At the time NetOne lines were the cheapest but could only be accessed by Makorokoza who had to queue to buy them for resale on the parallel market, while the civil servants were busy working for the government. This seemed like a ploy to keep civil servants less empowered and poor.
Recently civil servants were swindled of their money (through SSB) by certain companies and workers’ unions well connected to Zanu PF. The PSC only commented when the Minister of Public Service facilitated for the issue to be tabled in parliament.
The latest scandal in which more than 2 000 teachers’ salaries were stopped was planned by the PSC because the re-appointment letters of the majority of those affected teachers did not state any conditions for re-appointment. The problem is that the PSC is infested with stooges who are working to thwart the progressive minister, Senator David Coltart.
In all this, the PSC protects itself with the draconian regulatory rules which are clearly manifested in the notorious document called the statutory instrument used in the Ministry of Education. The educators cannot take their employer to court over unfair labour practices and are not allowed to speak to the press while the employer dominates the state media; ZBC and The Herald.
Zimbabweans and the world at large must know that there is need to reform the outdated PSC in order for the nation to regain its status as an academic giant.
Disgruntled Teacher
Hurungwe