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Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has started paying civil servants their 2018 bonuses and the first group received the 13th cheque yesterday while the last batch will be paid tomorrow.
According to a circular written by Treasury on Monday to chairpersons of commissions in the public service, those in service for the Zimbabwe National Army, Airforce of Zimbabwe, Health sector, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services were paid yesterday.
Those employed in the education sector will be paid today while the rest of the civil service will be paid tomorrow.
In the circular, Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary, Mr George Guvamatanga advised chairpersons of commissions in the public service commissions that the payment of the bonuses was in line with Government’s commitment to honour its obligations to its workers.
“You will recall that through his 2019 National Budget Statement, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, re-affirmed Government’s commitment to honour the 2018 13th cheque benefit payable to members of the public service.
“In the same vein, consistent with the focus on enhancing the health of our public finances through institution of various austerity measures, Minister Ncube advised that the 2018 13th cheque will be computed based on basic salary only, excluding housing and transport allowances,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
“Accordingly Treasury wishes to advise the 2018 13th cheque payment dates as follows: Zimbabwe National Army, 28 November; Airforce of Zimbabwe, 28 November; health sector, 28 November; Zimbabwe Republic Police, 28 November and the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, 28 November, Education sector, 29 November, rest of civil service 30 November.”
The payment of civil servants’ bonuses before year end is a departure from previous years when payments were staggered, with the last 13th cheque being made in the middle of the following year.
Presenting his 2019 National Budget in Parliament last week, Prof Ncube said Government appreciates the hard work rendered by its employees and recognises the 13th cheque as an integral component of the remuneration framework.
He, however, said this year’s bonuses will be paid based on basic salary only, excluding housing and transport allowances as was the case in the past.
In an interview, Zimbabwe Teachers’ ‘Association (Zimta) President Richard Gundane said while the payment of early bonuses was a breath of fresh air, excluding allowances was unfair and contestable.
“Government should desist from making unilateral changes to workers’ conditions of service. The unilateral exclusion of transport and housing allowances from bonus computation was a unilateral decision of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and it’s not justified.
“Ministry of Finance should not act in bad faith. They must know that they still owe teachers the remaining balance. This will amount to a meagre and paltry bonus payment which will have no impact on the teachers’ plight,” said Mr Gundane.
—@pamelashumba1
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