BLANTYRE, Malawi January 31 (MaraviPost): A month after Malawi’s Judiciary staff settled their strike and went back to work, they are at it again threatening to go back on strike. Last time they were on strike justice was paralyzed and important cashgate cases were put on hold. Donors are waiting for the outcome of these cases to decide whether they can start the Malawi Government budget again.
Confirming the development, Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula accused the government of playing hide-and-seek on the issues the two sides agreed before returning to work.
They accused government negotiators of not keeping their part, “Since we resumed work government negotiating team had not showed any commitment to meet us as earlier agreed that the judicial staff should resume work while discussions are still going on. We are willing to work and serve the country, but if the worse comes to the worst, we will have no choice, but to put down tools again,” said Mvula.
Mvula was strong in his warning to government not to take things for granted.
When approached for comment, Chief Secretary to the President George Mkondiwa said the government is doing whatever it can to make sure that the issue is resolved.
George Mkondiwa pleaded with the judicial staff to be patient.
Judicial staff staged a sit-in which lasted for seven weeks to force the government to raise their salaries by 45 percent to be at par with Civil Servants. Many in Malawi appear to be tired with the whole thing. James Ntabo a vendor in Blantyre said he understood the Judiciary staff to be among some of the highest paid civil servants and he did not understand why they were threatening to go on strike.