Zimbabwe Telegraph
By Getrude Gumede
16 July 2009
HARARE – The Zimbabwean Government has re-introduced salaries for civil servants with effect from 1 July, a development that will see public service employees earning varying figures according to grades.
Presenting his mid-term fiscal review statement at Parliament Building in Harare yesterday, Finance Minister Tendai Biti, increased employment cost for the public service from US$377 million to US$528 million and also added US$150 million for salary review support.
Civil servants salaries were scrapped in March when the inclusive Government adopted multi-currency system after demonitised the Zimbabwean dollar.
The Government employees were offered US$100 allowance per month.
He said of the budget, civil servants salaries gobbled 70 percent while 30 percent was dedicated to schools, hospitals and upgrading of infrastructure such as roads.
The introduction of salaries put to rest anxieties to civil servants who were complaining over the US$100 allowance.
The civil servants were threatening to go on strike demanding a decent living wage, arguing that the US$100 allowance was inadequate.
The Minister also admitted that the US$100 could not cater for the needs of civil servants.
“We are reviewing remuneration for the civil servants but the salaries will depend on grades. We want to thank the civil servants for understanding and patients during the harsh economic environment,†said Biti.
He announced that civil servants would receive bonus at the end of the year, emphasising that the Government was keen to restore the culture of saving among workers.
“We want to guarantee the 13th cheque to the civil servants,†said the Minister.
Minister Biti defended the salary figures, saying the Government had no money to pay civil servants high salaries.
He said an audit was underway to flush out ghost workers from the Government’s payroll.
Early this year, the Minister of Education, Sport Art and Culture David Coltart revealed that there were 90 000 teachers on the payroll yet teacher organisations estimate that there are less than 30 000 educators.
“The audit on Government workers is expected to produce a proper payroll. We want a detailed profile of civil servants,†said Biti.
Civil servants, mainly teachers had started protesting against the US$100 allowances but the announcement of the new salary structure is expected to boost the morale for Government workers.- The Zimbabwe Telegraph.