adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government yesterday paid 2015 bonuses and July 2016 salaries for State universities’ teaching and non-teaching staff. Lecturers were among the last batch of civil servants that had not received their 2015 bonuses and July 2016 salaries.
National University of Science and Technology Education Association (Nusteda) secretary general, Mr Blessing Jona, yesterday confirmed the payment of the bonuses and salaries.
He said their job action that had been slated for August 19 falls away following the payment.
“I’m pleased that the government has finally paid staff at universities bonuses for last year and salaries for last month. The salaries have been deposited by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development into all the nine university accounts. The salaries will start reflecting tomorrow (today).
“We’re happy that the government has finally honoured its promise to pay all its workers. I’m actually sending emails to all members informing them about the good news and telling them that the planned strike falls away,” said Mr Jona.
The university lecturers’ umbrella body, the Zimbabwe State Universities Union of Academics (ZISUUA) led by Mr Alois Muzvuwe and the non-teaching body led by Mr Readyforward Dube had threatened to go on strike over the non-payment of their 2015 bonuses and July salaries.
“We had threatened to strike on August 19, 2016, due to unfulfilled promises by the government. These announcements made people enter into financial commitments basing on the announced dates but the money didn’t come.
“It happened more than three times. We were failing to make ends meet and this was frustrating us,” said Mr Jona.
Last week, the Government disclosed the August pay dates for civil servants.
The move flies in the face of shadowy groups, civic society and opposition political parties that were expecting to boost their political profiles through protests thinking the Government would fail to pay its employees.
Those in the health sector will be paid on August 26, followed by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and prison officers on August 30. Teachers will get their dues on September 2, while the rest of the civil service will be paid on September 5. Pensioners will receive their pay outs on September 9. — @pamelashumba1
Online Reporter