Staff Reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has dramatically recoiled in its planned sacking of over 3000 youth graduates from the infamous Border Gezi training centres commonly known as Green Bombers.

The removal from the government pay roll of some 3,188 youth officers by Treasury was part of Mnangagwa’s efforts to comply with the demands from multi-lateral institutions for a reduction of the State wage bill.

However, with elections beckoning, government has made a bemusing climb-down after the employees threatened court action.

The Green Bombers are represented by former opposition legislator Munyaradzi Gwisayi.

Gwisayi confirmed that his clients were back at work.

“That’s true; we have an agreement. We are now working on the deed of settlement before it is filled with the High Court for registration of the consent order,” he said.

In a letter to the permanent secretary for Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation Prince Mupazviriho, Public Service Employees Association secretary general, one E Mhuriro, said the workers will now move to withdraw the legal challenge.

“Reference is made to our meeting of 5 April 2018 with the secretary and to our subsequent meeting of 9 April 2018 with the Honourable Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation at your offices. 

“We confirm that, further to the above meetings, we have agreed to enter into a consent withdrawal of the court case LC/H/REV20/18,” Mhuriro said.

He added: “By copy of this letter we also instruct our lawyers to work with yours to come up with the consent order for withdrawal of the court case.

“This is based on the agreed position that all the 3188 youth officers are re-instated on the pay sheet with effect from 1 April 2018.”