daniel chigunweZvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has started implementing regulations that extend the retirement age for civil servants and uniformed forces from 65 to 70 years amid anxiety from Government workers, particularly teachers, over the delay in giving effect to the law.
There has been panic as some civil servants, especially teachers, were being asked to retire even though they would have requested to exercise their option to extend their retirement age to 70 in line with Statutory Instrument 197 of 2024 which extended the pensionable age to 70 while pegging early retirement at 65.
Some teachers were already facing eviction from school quarters as headmasters directed them to retire, arguing that they were yet to receive a circular allowing them to extend the retirement age to 70.
In an interview yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Mr Moses Mhike said they had started implementing the regulations after a delay occasioned by the PSC.
“We got a circular yesterday from PSC and we have started sharing it with our structures. Yes PSC had delayed in issuing out the circular to guide Line Ministries,” said Mr Mhike.
The Herald was shown some letters from school headmasters directing teachers who had attained 65 years of age to proceed to retirement.
The clarification by the parent Ministry is expected to put to rest the anxiety that had gripped the teaching fraternity.
Explaining the rationale for extending the retirement age last month, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the extension was meant to leverage the skills and vast experience possessed by those who would have reached 65 years.
Minister Ziyambi said the move also takes into account the rising life expectancy in the country, with middle-aged adults now on average reaching their 80s.
Online Reporter