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2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
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vote buying as Mugabe hikes civil servants' salaries
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
March 12, 2008
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news120308/votebuying120308.htm
Just days after handing
over millions of US dollars worth of agricultural equipment, buses
and generators at his weekend rallies, Robert Mugabe has announced
large salary increases for civil servants, including teachers. According
to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, Mugabe announced the increases
while addressing a rally at a school in Inyathi, Matabeleland North
on Tuesday.
The actual figures
approved by Mugabe were not revealed, but it is known that the Progressive
Teachers Union of Zimbabwe were demanding a minimum monthly
salary of Z$1,7 billion, up from the current Z$300 million.
The Herald quoted Mugabe
as saying: "Just yesterday I was signing a new salary schedule
of big salaries for teachers and civil servants. I hope they will
be happy because we have worked out very good salaries."
Pedzisai Ruhanya,
a programmes officer with the Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition, described Mugabe's move as a "tired
electioneering gimmick". He said teachers are educated and
are very aware that Mugabe is after votes.
As for the agricultural equipment, Ruhanya said that it was distributed
to middle class ZANU-PF supporters only, and this is alienating
the rest of the population.
Ruhanya added: "It
is the role of government to make sure that civil servants earn
enough money to live on." He also explained that the salary
increases may be hefty now, but by the time the teachers hit the
supermarkets to spend the money, its value will have been eroded
by the ever-increasing inflation.
Mugabe has tried to please
many different sectors as we get closer to the elections. Just last
month, he increased salaries for soldiers and the police. This was
seen as an attempt to ensure their loyalty at a crucial time. War
veterans and the so-called youth militia, who are used to intimidate
opposition officials and supporters, also received an increase in
their monthly allowances. As one critic put it: "You would
to have to be hiding in a cave with Bin Laden, not to know what
Mugabe is up to."
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