[tuszit]

Dear Family and Friends,

A growing number of analysts are starting to say that the "honeymoon
is over" for Zimbabwe's unity government. For the last six months the
very long suffering Zimbabweans have been patient, very patient. After
living through nine years of violence, hunger, disease, poverty and
oppression, everyone wanted to try and make this botched up and
hugely over-staffed government work.

"Its a transitional" stage, we were told by our MP's in March, April
and May.

"Be Patient!" they urged, " in June and July. "The collapse is
widespread, the corruption rampant and change is going to take time."

At a local level services remain largely non existent - garbage is
still not collected, street lights don't work, roads are full of
potholes and

water supplies are scarce.

At a business level conditions continue to be extremely precarious.
For the last three months the NEC (National Employment Council) have
been announcing new wage levels for employees in the business sector.
They are demanding increases for workers of 40% in some sectors, 50%
in others and are saying that new wage rates are to be backdated by
2,3 and even 4 months. Employers are saying that if the wage levels
are enforced they'll have no option but to make half their staff
redundant and reduce business by 50%. Employees say they understand
on the one hand but threaten to strike on the other. It's a time
bomb.

At a professional level government doctors have finally reached
tipping point and gone on strike. After a minimum of five years
university and hospital training and working very long hours with
negligible equipment and facilities, they've said enough is enough.
They say they will not continue working for 170 US dollars (106
British pounds) a month.

Government teachers are very close to withdrawing their services too.
Three or more years of tertiary education, teacher training, classroom
experience and every afternoon of every school day spent supervising
or travelling to one sporting event or another, teachers are very
disgruntled. In return for their labour they are currently earning
only 140 US dollars (87 British pounds) a month.

To put all this into perspective are two pictures:

First is the driver of the truck which killed the Prime Minister's
wife, Mrs Susan Tsvangirai. The truck driver was reportedly earning
300 British pounds (US$ 480) a month at the time of the accident.
(for which he was fined US 200. ) A truck driver earning almost
double the salary of a doctor?

Secondly are the new NEC rates for security workers. A man standing
at the gate of a complex lifting a boom across the road for vehicles
to enter is now earning 140 US dollars a month, before transport,
lighting and housing allowances. A gate guard earning more than a
teacher?

Zimbabwe's priorities are confused and patience grows ever thinner.

Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy

©Copyright cathy buckle 15 August 2009

www.cathybuckle.com
. For information on my new book: "INNOCENT VICTIMS" or my previous
books, "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears," or to
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