Teachers, nurses fret over bonus

Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
CIVIL servants who are yet to receive their bonuses will get their 13th cheque this month, Public Service Minister Nicholas Goche said yesterday – 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.

Unions have called for a meeting with Cde Goche today at which they will seek assurances that bonuses will be paid. They also want the Government to respond to rumours that their December pay could also be staggered – with normal pay coming first and then bonuses after Christmas.

Minister Goche said yesterday: “I’m not the paymaster and I don’t know if the bonus is coming at the same time with pay.
“All I know is that they will get the bonus but I don’t know whether it will be staggered or not. The paymaster knows and that is an issue of the availability of resources.”

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa – who is set to announce a pay rise for civil servants in his 2013 budget statement – is 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.
“We’re meeting Minister Goche tomorrow. He has invited all civil servants’ associations for a meeting at 9am” said David Dzatsunga, president of the Apex Council which brings together all public sector unions.

“That meeting will delve into the issue of bonuses, no doubt about that. We will have a clear position on the issue after the meeting.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president Richard Gundane said his organisation was concerned about the speculation surrounding the bonuses.

“I’m aware of the rumours about the bonus issue for civil servants. Our members are in panic mode,” he told Chronicle last night.
“What I can say is that we’re having a meeting with the Minister tomorrow to get the correct position from him regarding the issue.”