Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T has accused the Zanu-PF of "encouraging" the civil servants' strike (file photo). (Photo Courtesy http://www.zimbabweprimeminister.org/)

Government offices in the country's two main cities were operating as normal Monday, on the first day of a week long strike called by the state workers union, Apex Council.

On Friday last week, Apex Council said the five day strike was in response to their employer's refusal to raise their salaries. The civil servants are demanding a minimum monthly salary of US$538, up from the current US$250.

Government insists it doesn't have enough in its coffers to increase the salaries. The Apex Council however blames the stubborn attitude of the government for the miseries being faced by civil servants.

SW Radio Africa correspondents in Harare and Bulawayo said the nationwide industrial action did not go as its organiser had wished, revealing deep divisions among unions on how to tackle the government regarding the salary dispute.

The Apex Council action was reportedly undermined by some union affiliates, who discouraged their members from striking, warning that they would not defend workers who lost jobs due to the strike.

It's reported the strike had also not had a huge impact on government workers' ability to render services. Most workers reported for duty, and that services at major state run institutions were operating as normal.

"It is business as usual at most government buildings in Harare, but we understand the situation is different at schools were most teachers did not report for duty," according to the capital's SWRA correspondent Simon Muchemwa.

In Bulawayo, SW RA correspondent Lionel Saungweme said most civil servants reported for duty and that it was not clear if union members got notification of the strike.

"Most government employees reported for work and there seems to be no information flowing to the union members on what to do," Saungweme said.