Mugabe says 'good salaries' approved for civil servants

Mugabe says 'good salaries' approved for civil servants

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PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe, campaigning for re-election this month, has promised salary increases to restive government workers.

Mugabe, 84, faces the toughest challenge to his 28-year hold on power in the southern African country. Two rivals accuse him of dragging Zimbabwe into severe economic crisis through his policies and say they can restore growth.

Government employees have suffered badly from the world's highest inflation -- above 100,000 percent a year -- which has eroded incomes. Some teachers, the bulk of state workers, are on strike. Doctors have also threatened to walk out.

Mugabe, addressing a campaign rally in Matabeleland North on Tuesday ahead of the March 29 general election, promised a huge increase for the government employees.

"Just yesterday, I was signing a new salary schedule of big salaries for teachers and civil servants," Mugabe said.

"I hope they will be happy, because we have worked out very good salaries."

He did not specify by how much the wages would be hiked, saying the "responsible ministers" would give details in subsequent announcements.

The teachers who have been striking since schools opened in January, earn between Z$300million and Z$500 million (£1 = Z$73 million) which can only buy a shirt.

Mugabe pleaded with unions to make strikes a last resort action, saying a teachers’ strike was undignified.

He said: “Teachers please, please, we don’t want strikes. These kids are yours. Why go on strike when you have a good case? I have told them that I am teacher number one. It’s undignified.”

Analysts say that while the veteran ruler faces a splintered opposition, his government's failure to arrest the sharp economic decline poses a serious threat to his bid to retain power.

Both his opponents, former ally Simba Makoni and long time rival Morgan Tsvangirai, have made the economy a centrepiece of their presidential campaigns.

Mugabe has tried to woo mainly rural voters with farm equipment and subsidised loans. At the weekend, he also signed a bill giving locals the right to take majority control of foreign owned companies

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, denies mismanaging the economy and says it has been sabotaged by Western states as punishment for his land reforms which including confiscating farms from white farmers. - Reuters

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