Windfall for Zim civil servants

Takudzwa Chihambakwe

The Government of Zimbabwe will this week pay the rest of the civil servants a once off RTGS$400 cushioning allowance across the board despite a tight fiscal environment.

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr. Sekai Nzenza revealed that civil servants who have not yet received their allowances after the government agreed to pay them, will get their dues this week.

Members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces received salaries adjusted with the cushioning allowances, but other civil servants including teachers are yet to get theirs. 

The reimbursement follows government negotiations with civil servants through the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) on Friday when the deal was made. The payout is expected to ease inflationary pressures on cost of living which has gone beyond the reach of many in the southern African country.

“As per our agreement last week, workers will start getting their allowances this week,” said Minister Nzenza.

“However, negotiations will continue taking place. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on August 1, as we try to come up with a lasting solution to the plight of the workers,” she said.

Minister Nzenza allayed fears of a strike by civil servants saying negotiations were going on through the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF).