APEX Council woes mount

The continued squabbles within the APEX council have stalled efforts of engaging government over salary increments for civil servants, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) Chief Executive Officer Sifiso Ndlovu has said.

Apex council is a representative body comprising of most civil servants unions. Ndlovu said since the council elected a new leadership last year led by College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe President, David Dzatsunga, some unions affiliated to the body have refused to recognise the new leadership.

“Currently we have not made any discussions, government unions do make interactions with government through APEX Council. But I can tell you that the unions are not united at the moment, if the unions are not united then we can not have a collective action,” said Ndlovu.

ZIMTA president Tendai Chikowore is the former chairperson of the council. ZIMTA member further said due to squabbles in the Council, government has refused to open discussions over salary increments.

Ndlovu said efforts to engage the government without addressing the issue of the contested leadership of the Apex Council would be in vain. He also said upon resumption of the talks, they want government to reinstate the rural allowances as a way of luring back skilled teachers to rural schools.