Confusion over payment date for bonuses

By Tichaona Sibanda

Government has promised to pay annual bonuses to teachers this month but confusion has emerged as to the date the treasury will pay out the 13th cheque.

Following a meeting between Labour and Public Service Minister Nicholas Goche, and unions representing teachers in Harare on Tuesday, a statement was issued confirming that government will pay the bonuses on the 16th December.

The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) chief executive, Sifiso Ndlovu, said teachers would get their bonuses in full on Monday next week dispelling rumours that they would only receive vouchers as payment in January 2014, instead of cash.

‘I can confirm that we met the minister today (Tuesday) and he told us that bonuses will be paid in full on December 16. That is the set date,’ said Ndlovu in an interview with the Newsday newspaper.

However the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said while the government made a commitment that their bonuses will be paid this December no date was given for the payment.

In a statement on Facebook the PTUZ added that ‘contrary to what is in the press, no date was given and what more is shocking is that the people being quoted did not attend the meeting.’

‘We expect government to honour and respect this commitment and release our bonuses on our payday, as was the case with our uniformed forces, to enable us at least to prepare for the festive season.

‘We are also reminding government that the payment of these bonuses does not mark the end of business for 2013 because we still have unfinished business to attend to, meaning all those promises made and not fulfilled will be item number one on our 2014 agenda,’ the statement said. SW Radio Africa