Prosecutors Plan Nationwide Strike, Demand US$900 Salary
Public prosecutors across the country are planning to go on strike starting on 20 April to push their employer, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), to restore their 2018 salaries.
According to NewZimbabwe.com, the pay entry level for a junior prosecutor in 2018 was US$899.
Currently, junior prosecutors earn ZW$100 000, which is equivalent to US$100, plus an additional U$200 government allowance.
Prosecutors are accusing the NPA of neglecting the welfare of low-ranking staffers while senior law officers in the grade of chief or provincial public prosecutors have numerous benefits.
Chief or provincial public prosecutors reportedly earn in the range of ZWL$2 million and ZWL$3 million.
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They get fuel coupons for their allocated double cab vehicles, Isuzus, Toyota Fortuners, or Ford Everest.
The Prosecutors’ Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) notified their employer of their intention to strike in a letter dated 5 April 2023.
PAZ demanded that the NPA urgently address concerns or face a nationwide strike starting on 20 April. Wrote PAZ:
This serves as formal notice to engage in collective job action in terms of section 104 of the Labour Act.
This is also based on a poll that has been endorsed by members who cast votes.
We also take cognisance of the fact that we do not fall under any of the exceptions which ban employees from engaging in collective job action.
We appreciate that the grounds for giving such notice must be matters of a dispute of interest as required by law.
The issues prosecutors want to be addressed include salary review based on 2018 rates, payment of responsibility and retention allowances for public prosecutors who head stations, and promotions of deserving individuals. Said PAZ:
Hence our position is that if the above issues are not attended to within 14 days as required by the law, public prosecutors will engage in collective job action on the 20th of April 2023.
However, NPA Acting Secretary Tafadzwa Mupariwa, representing Acting Prosecutor-General Nelson Mutsonziwa, warned the prosecutors of unspecified action if the strike goes ahead. He said:
The Authority notes that the notice is fatally defective at law and therefore a nullity. The PAZ has been advised.
In light of the defects in the notice for industrial action, be advised that any industrial action based on that defective notice is unlawful.
Mupariwa said the NPA was working on improving the conditions of service and the general welfare of staffers. He said:
These include the provision of station vehicles, whose pilot project has seen the distribution of 19 brand-new Isuzu single-cab vehicles.
The next stage is now the provision of vehicles and conditions of service for prosecutors in charge of stations.
This is a phased approach and we hope to equip all the stations progressively.
The NPA said engagements with Treasury were ongoing with a view to a 100% salary increment effective 01 April 2023.
It said talks with local councils would see prosecutors allocated housing stands.
Sector-specific allowances were also being tabled for adoption, the NPA said.
In 2022, the NPA said drug and alcohol abuse among public prosecutors was so rampant that some were losing their minds.
More: Pindula News
