The Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) strongly condemn the gross labour injustice being perpetrated by the Civil Registry Department, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Home Affairs against the hardworking civil registry staff who toiled tirelessly during the Mop-Up Mobile Registration exercise ahead of the 2023 elections.

It is a national scandal that these workers only received part of their long-overdue allowances in May 2025 almost two years later and even then, only after sustained advocacy and pressure. Shockingly, documents from the Civil Registry itself reveal that USD 1.1 million is available, yet the department deliberately chose not to clear the outstanding allowances for the two remaining provinces, leaving staff underpaid and demoralised.

Violation of Labour Rights

This conduct constitutes a blatant violation of:

▪︎Section 65 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which guarantees fair and safe labour practices.
▪︎ Section 65(1) which enshrines the right to fair remuneration.
▪︎ The Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], which compels employers, including the State, to ensure timely and full payment of wages and benefits.
▪︎ International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions on fair pay and decent working conditions to which Zimbabwe is a signatory.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

▪︎ SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) – violated through exploitation of the lowest-paid civil servants.
▪︎ SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) – undermined by corruption, unethical conduct, and disregard for rule of law in state institutions.

Ethical Double Standards

We ask: Would any director, who enjoys hefty salaries and perks, tolerate going two years without their allowances? The answer is a resounding NO. Yet the lowest-paid workers in government, the Civil Registry staff, whose work is essential to the very documentation of Zimbabwean citizens, are subjected to this indignity and exploitation.

Such deliberate neglect and unethical decision-making expose not only the incompetence but also the shameless disregard for labour justice within the leadership of the Civil Registry and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

We demand;

1. Immediate and Full Payment of all outstanding allowances to Civil Registry staff across all provinces.
2. Retirement of Registrar-General H.T. Machiri for presiding over this injustice with no iota of shame.
3. Accountability from the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Kazembe Kazembe, for allowing such exploitation of civil servants under his watch.
4. Ethical and transparent management of public resources within the Civil Registry, ensuring funds earmarked for staff are not diverted to directors’ luxuries and foreign commitments.
5. Labour Justice for Civil Registry Staff – a sector that remains among the least paid despite carrying out one of the most critical functions in nation-building: documenting the citizenship and identity of Zimbabweans.

Conclusion

LEAD stands firm with the Civil Registry workers and demands justice, accountability, and ethical conduct. Labour justice is not negotiable. The dignity of Zimbabwean workers must never be trampled upon.

It is time for government leaders to walk the talk on fairness, constitutionalism, and sustainable development not merely in rhetoric but in tangible action that restores trust, dignity, and justice for all workers.

Enough is enough. Labour injustice must end now.

Issued by:
Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
President, Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD)