{"id":26651,"date":"2016-07-06T02:22:57","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T02:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/zimbabwe-civil-servants-strike-over-unpaid-wages\/"},"modified":"2016-07-06T02:22:50","modified_gmt":"2016-07-06T02:22:50","slug":"zimbabwe-civil-servants-strike-over-unpaid-wages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/zimbabwe-civil-servants-strike-over-unpaid-wages\/","title":{"rendered":"Zimbabwe civil servants strike over unpaid wages"},"content":{"rendered":"

{Government workers in Zimbabwe have gone on strike over unpaid salaries because of a chronic cash shortage.}<\/p>\n

Teachers, doctors and nurses were among who stopped work because they had not been paid in more than a month.<\/p>\n

It comes a day ahead of a suggested national shutdown called by activists complaining about the economy and alleged government corruption.<\/p>\n

Police used teargas and water cannons to break up protests in some areas of the capital, Harare, on Monday.<\/p>\n

The unrest had begun when minibus drivers erected barricades in a protest against harassment and roadblocks by police demanding bribes.<\/p>\n

Teachers, doctors and nurses have not been paid for a month, but the government has said they will get their wages by the middle of July, Reuters news agency has reported.<\/p>\n

The scene in the country’s capital, Harare, resembled a quiet Sunday afternoon, with civil servants on strike, the BBC’s Brian Hungwe reports.<\/p>\n

“We have heeded the call” by our governing council, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union president Richard Gundani said.<\/p>\n

“Teachers and the rest of the civil servants are declaring their incapacity to go to work. Government departments were operating without some of their staff who stayed at home.”<\/p>\n

Our correspondent says unlike other government workers, the security forces were paid on time in June.<\/p>\n

Those who were not paid were handed a $100 (\u00a376) advance to help with transport and other costs.<\/p>\n

Zimbabwe has become increasingly volatile in recent weeks as the government struggles to cope with a severe cash shortage and the effects of a drought.<\/p>\n

Political activists, backed by the social movement called #ThisFlag, have called for a national stay-away on Wednesday “to shut down the country” in protest at the government “for allowing corruption, injustice and poverty”.<\/p>\n

On its Twitter account, #ThisFlag said it wanted “good governance and leadership” in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n

“Citizens. They do not have enough guns and man power to kill us all.The country has broken down. We demand an engine overhaul,” said one message.<\/p>\n

It is not clear if the national shutdown has been called for one day or indefinitely until demands are met, our reporter says.<\/p>\n

\"Classrooms<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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