HARARE – The government could be headed for a showdown with its 500,000 workers after talks over an upward review of their salaries collapsed in Harare on Thursday.

Public sector workers’ representatives negotiating under the banner of the Apex Council walked out of the talks after two hours when it became clear the cash-strapped government had no offer to put on the table.

“The government had nothing to say, it had nothing to offer,” Apex Council secretary David Dzatsunga said. “In fact, they brought nothing to the table and we, therefore, decided to abort the meeting. They just told us they would call us when they have something.

“We walked out after about two hours. At that point we just concluded it was just pointless to continue with the meeting.”

The Apex Council brings together nine unions representing public sector workers.

Doctors at public health institutions began a job boycott on December 1, and the strike has since been joined by radiographers. The government’s reaction has been to call the strike illegal.

Health Minister Obadiah Moyo said a meeting would be held on Tuesday next week to try and break the impasse.

But the government, which has been preaching austerity and cutting back on expenditure to balance its books, faces a bigger crisis with the rest of its workers demanding a review of salaries after prices more than double since early October.

“We said to the government our members can no longer afford to go to work and because of the inflation and the rather punitive 2 percent tax (on electronic transactions), we said we can no longer afford to come to work. In turn, the government says it cannot offer anything new and we really felt they are not taking this matter seriously,” Dzasunga said.

The biggest body of public sector workers, teachers, could be the next to strike after doctors. Nurses, who are under increased pressure following the doctors’ strike, are also said to be considering their options.

Dzasunga says a sharp rise in transport costs and shortages of fuel could see their members just staying at home.

“We don’t have to call for a strike when it is clear that people can no longer afford to go to work. The transport costs have gone up and some services are paid for in US dollars, so how do we manage? We have told government to be sensitive to our plight,” he told NewsDay.