• 20 workers operate in each ward

By Tinoonga Mawere | Masvingo Controversial politician and Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao has declared ghost workers in his ministry will remain at work despite mounting pressure to flush out shadowy civil servants.
Impeccable sources at the ministry’s provincial offices here revealed Zhuwao who is President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, was in Masvingo recently and addressed a closed-door meeting where he reportedly vowed to shield all ghost workers in the ministry.
The government is under pressure from local and international financial institutions -including IMF to cut the number of civil servants in order to get monetary aid. The majority of the ghost workers in the youth ministry are Zanu PF activists being rewarded for campaigning for the ruling party in the past elections.
Zhuwao was reportedly addressing the grievances experienced by the Zanu PF activists who work as ward officers in the ministry since they were afraid of losing their jobs. The treasury is struggling to pay civil servants mainly because of a large salary bill and some government workers including teachers have gone for several months without pay.
A youth officer who spoke to ZimEye.com yesterday said Zhuwao said all ghost workers in the ministry would get maximum protection. “The minister(Zhuwao) …told us everything is under control and nobody will be sacked.
He said the whole issue is about the role played in the past elections .”
 
Although the Provincial Youth Ministry head identified as Mr Machako could not be reached for comment, insiders insist Zhuwao was in Masvingo to address some grievances.
The Youth Ministry reportedly harbours the highest number of ghost workers and up to 20 workers operate in each ward .The treasury is battling to cope with the high number of civil servants but Zhuwao’ s declaration indicates government’s lack of commitment towards purging ghost workers, analysts say.
Thousands of civil servants have even failed to receive their monthly salaries in the past months.