Workers in Zimbabwe may smile home even before Christmas as the President has approached early payment for them.
President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa
Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has approved early payment of salaries to government workers, the first time in three years.
Zimbabwe Herald reported today that members of the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe and the health sector will be paid tomorrow.
Workers in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) will be paid on December 19, while teachers and the rest of the civil service will be paid on December 21.
Pensioners are not left out from benefitting from President Mnangagwa’s gesture. They will also get their dues on December 21, the Herald reported.
However, workers in grant-aided institutions will have a bleak Christmas as they will not be paid until December 28.
“We are happy with the consideration taken by President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa’s administration because for the first time in many years we will enjoy the Christmas holidays because all of us are going to get paid before the festive season,” said Mrs Cecilia Alexander, chair of a government agency, Apex Coumcil.
She also asked governnment to try to tame rising prices of goods in the market.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu also said: “That is refreshing news coming under the auspices of a new administration. We want to believe this is showing some seriousness in addressing what otherwise are problems which demoralise workers.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary general Mr Raymond Majongwe said “It is a good move because this was going to be the fourth year getting our salaries after Christmas,” he said.
“It means the new Government is sensitive to the plight of the workers, it is a thumbs up for them”, he added.
Most civil servants would have been paid by December 21. Low revenue inflows, in the past, saw most Government workers getting their December salaries well after Christmas, according to the government owned Herald.
-NAN