Chronicle Editor
Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
CIVIL servants will for the first time in three years receive their salaries before Christmas except for those at grant aided institutions who will receive theirs on December 28.
Government yesterday released the December 2017 pay dates with the Zimbabwe National Army, the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the health sector receiving their salaries tomorrow.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services will receive their salaries on Tuesday December 19, 2017.
On December 21 the education sector, the rest of the civil servants and the pensioners will get their salaries while the grant aided institutions will get theirs on December 28, 2017.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association president Mr Richard Gundane commended Government for paying the civil servants on time, saying it shows progress.
“Civil servants have for the past few years been getting their salaries after Christmas. It’s good to note that there’s progress in terms of payment dates. This is a notable shift that we commend as civil servants.
“This means that the civil servants will be able to travel during the Christmas and New Year Holidays and will have money to buy Christmas goodies for their families,” said Mr Gundane.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa has assured civil servants that they will be paid their 2017 bonus beginning in 2018, with $176 million set aside for the 13th cheques.
Minister Chinamasa made the announcement while presenting the 2018 National Budget last week.
He said as usual, the bonus payments will be staggered.
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