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Transparency on diamond revenue will improve civil servants' welfare
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
July 25, 2012

The MDC is aware and sympathises with the plight of all the civil servants whose salaries are far below the country's poverty datum line.

As a party, the MDC fully understands and supports the cause of the civil servants who went on strike on Tuesday demanding better salaries and working conditions.

We believe that civil servants have genuine concerns because the least paid government worker is getting US$296 against the poverty datum line of US$650.

We are also aware that civil servants form the largest single workforce in the country and their role in the development of the country cannot be in doubt. As such, civil servants need to be treated with respect and dignity.

While government workers' salaries must be reviewed, we feel it is unfair for them to demonstrate against Finance Minister, Hon. Tendai Biti because he is on record as saying revenue inflows to Treasury are pathetic owing to the lack of transparency in the remittance of funds mostly from the sale of diamonds.

It is well-known that the four companies extracting the precious mineral in Marange have failed to meet revenue targets, with the largest one, Anjin being the main culprit.

There is strong suspicion that the money from Marange is being used to run a parallel government with Anjin buying more than 200 trucks to fund Zanu PF's election campaign.

As the MDC, we condemn in the strongest terms, the creation of a parallel government structure by Zanu PF as it does not serve the interests of the ordinary person but that of a few elite members of the sunset party.

The MDC applauds the Minister's recommendation during the presentation of his Mid Term Fiscal Policy that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority be actively involved in the monitoring of revenue inflows from Marange diamond fields.

We urge Minister Biti to continue putting in place measures that guarantee improved revenue collection.

The MDC's philosophy for the people of Zimbabwe is anchored on our background with its strong bias towards the poor. The MDC was formed on two pillars - the trade union movement and the constitutional movement. It is therefore wrong to assume Minister is refusing to increase salaries in the public sector.

As a party, the MDC is concerned over the manner in which the Zimbabwe Republic Police is illegally retaining revenue from roadblocks and other traffic offences. The fines collected by the police are being looted by the Acting Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri.

The MDC's positions is that if the huge revenue from diamond proceeds and traffic offences is properly accounted for and channelled towards infrastructural development in the country and civil servants' welfare, it will make a difference to the growth of the country.

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