Civil servants unions meet Minister

Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE meeting between civil servants and the Government, which was scheduled for yesterday, has been postponed to today. Civil servants unions were billed to meet Public Service Minister Cde Nicholas Goche yesterday to seek, among other things, assurances that bonuses for remaining civil servants will be paid.

They also wanted the government to respond to rumours that their December pay could also be staggered – with normal pay coming first and then bonuses after Christmas.

“The meeting did not take place as planned and has been postponed to tomorrow,” said David Dzatsunga, president of the Apex Council which brings together all public sector unions.

He added: “The minister had an urgent Cabinet meeting today and he assured us that we will meet tomorrow at the same time, 9am. Cabinet usually meets on Tuesday but it seems there were changes.”

Civil servants who are yet to receive their bonuses will get their 13th cheque this month, Cde Goche said on Sunday, but he would not say when they will get paid.

Rumours that the Government could fail to pay bonuses swept the civil service last week after a speculative newspaper report, which has been rejected as false by Cde Goche.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa – who is set to announce a pay rise for civil servants in his 2014 budget statement – is said to be out of the country.

As per tradition, members of the armed forces received their bonuses last month. Teachers, nurses and Agritex officers are due theirs in December. If there is no change to the schedule, teachers are expected to get their December salaries next Monday and nurses shortly after.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president Richard Gundane has said his organisation was concerned about the speculation surrounding the bonuses.