Civil servants pay dates changed

The Finance Ministry has moved pay dates for the civil service and pensioners for this month to between tomorrow and month-end. 

In a statement yesterday, Civil Service Commission Secretary Mrs Pretty Sunguro said those in the education sector would now access their salaries on Friday rather than Thursday.

She said the rest of the civil service, who were to be paid next Thursday, would now be paid on May 29. Pensioners would be paid on May 30 instead of May 28.

Last month, civil servants also had their pay dates changed due to challenges related to transmission of money over the Independence and Easter holidays.

The least-paid civil servant now earns US$375 monthly, while teachers are now earning around US$500.

With the new salary schedule, Government is forking out US$155 million to pay its 230 000 workers monthly.

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa has admitted that Zimbabwe is “confronted with an economy which is heavily indebted, that is a reality I am facing, whether it is China or Malawi or the Bretton Wood Institutions (IMF and World Bank).”

“We must be cognisant of the fact that the country needs foreign direct investment. So, we must come up with policies to attract FDI.

“To be honest with you, I’m grappling with the cause of the liquidity problem in the economy. Is it a political issue or an economic issue?”

Economists however argue that although the country urgently requires a stimulus package the government lacks the credibility and a bankable programme to get this funding.