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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE Government yesterday released civil servants’ July pay dates, with soldiers expected to be paid on Monday. Workers at grant-aided institutions will receive their July salaries and 2015 bonuses on August 16.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira (pictured above) yesterday told The Chronicle that the first batch of civil servants will receive their salaries on Monday.

“I’m happy to announce that the proposed official dates are now available. The Zimbabwe National Army and the Airforce of Zimbabwe will be paid on July 25 followed by the health sector on July 27.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services will be paid on July 29, followed by the education sector on August 2.

“The rest of the civil service will get their salaries on August 6 while pensioners will be paid on August 12,” said Minister Mupfumira.

She said those at grant-aided institutions will be paid their salaries and 2015 bonuses on August 16.

Minister Mupfumira assured civil servants that the Government would continue improving on the pay dates.

Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said: “While our position remains that the pay dates should return to normalcy, we appreciate that at least there has been a movement towards the right direction because the period of delay has improved. We will continue to press the Government through dialogue to have salaries on the traditional dates.”

The Government normally pays its workforce beginning mid-month but has of late been forced to break with tradition owing to cash-flow challenges.

Last month, it managed to pay the uniformed forces their June salaries within that month but pushed the dues for teachers and nurses to July 7 and 8, respectively.

The Government then offered those who had not been paid a $100 advance payment to allow them to travel to and from work while they waited for their salaries.

The move saw teachers and nurses calling for a three-day strike, which they immediately called off after the Government honoured its obligations.

The workers had argued the $100 was not enough as they had other obligations like rentals and bank loans to settle.

President Mugabe recently appealed to civil servants to be patient, saying the country was faced with an array of challenges that include illegal sanctions, drought as well as the use of the multi-currency system, mainly the US dollar that the country had little control over.

He said the Government would strive to ensure that the problem of delays in salary payments was addressed.

The Government directs nearly $200 million every month towards salaries, a development that is unsustainable.

To rectify the challenge, the civil service is being rationalised with changes being implemented expected to save $400 million yearly.