Zimpapers Logo

Minister Mupfumira

Bulawayo Bureau
Government will next week make an announcement on civil servants’ bonuses for this year, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said yesterday.

Civil servants have said they are hopeful that President Mugabe’s promise that they will get their 13th cheque this year without fail still stands.

In April, President Mugabe quashed plans by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa, to suspend civil servants’ bonuses for two years, saying Government had no such policy.

Minister Chinamasa had said due to falling revenues, it was unsustainable for the Government to continue paying bonuses.

But President Mugabe said he was not consulted over the matter and reiterated that the decision would never be implemented.

In an interview, Minister Mupfumira could not be drawn into revealing when civil servants would start getting their money, but indicated that an announcement would be made next week.

“Civil servants have to get their bonuses but I’m not in a position to give dates yet. We will discuss with Treasury next week and announce the Government’s position after the discussions,” she said.

Minister Mupfumira said Government remained committed to honouring its obligations with regards to meeting the entitlements of all public servants.

Efforts to get a comment from Minister Chinamasa, who is with President Mugabe at the India-Africa Summit were fruitless yesterday as his mobile phone was not being answered.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu said they were pinning their hopes on the President’s promise.

“We have not received any communication from the Government regarding this year’s bonuses but we will continue to hope that the Government will pay all its workers their dues at the end of the year as promised by the President,” said Ndlovu.

“We expect the Government to start communication soon and we’re not in a position to accept any excuse or failure to pay the bonuses before the end of the year as expected.”

Government staggered last year’s bonuses between November and April this year, citing dwindling revenue inflows.