The strike by civil servants yesterday entered the second day with unionists vowing to continue with the strike until government gives in to their demands.

Government has since invited Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) back to the negotiation table, urging them to end the strike.

CSTU Secretary General Pontius Kalichero confirmed in an interview yesterday that the government had called its negotiating team back to roundtable talks through the Department of Public Service Management.

However, Kalichero said while the union was ready to discuss with government, civil servants would not return to work.

"Government had betrayed the union and all civil servants by forging a letter alleging that we were calling off the strike and for that reason, the strike will continue until all our grievances are resolved," Kalichero said.

Government Negotiating Team chairperson MacPhail Magwira could not be reached for comment, but Kalichero said the government should not blame the ailing economy for failure to meet their demands.

The CSTU, which has demanded a salary improvement and harmonisation of salaries among other demands, says the government is already over spending on other areas.

Meanwhile, civil servants in Blantyre have resolved to join the stay away.

Some civil servants in Blantyre had for the past three days been seen performing their duties, but yesterday they knocked off as early as around 2pm after meeting with CSTU leaders in readiness for the sit in today.

Speaking after addressing his colleagues, CSTU Regional Chairman for the South Servace Sakala said they will not allow anybody to work starting today and they will camp outside the offices building.

"The discussion broke down last Thursday and we were simply informing them what transpired. Civil servants generally are angry and they are ready to continue with the sit in and if there is no response from government we will develop into a fully fledged strike possibly from next week," Sakala said.