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Minister Goche

Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
ALL civil servants will receive their bonuses this year, Public Service Minister Nicholas Goche said yesterday, quashing rumours that some government workers could miss out on the 13th cheque.The government started paying out bonuses to civil servants last month.

Rumours, however, started circulating this week that the remaining civil servants, who include nurses and teachers, would not be getting their money.

Panic has since gripped the government workers, who have been waiting patiently for their bonuses since last month.  Minister Goche said: “I’m not aware that some government workers are not getting their bonuses. Government conveyed its commitment and promised that all its workers will get their bonuses. I can assure you that nothing will change.

“I don’t know where the rumours are emanating from and I want to reassure the civil servants that there is no doubt that they will get their money.”

Minister Goche could not give the dates for the payment of bonuses, but indicated that the Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa, who is out of the country, had a detailed schedule.

“I’m not sure about the payment dates for the remaining civil servants but I know that they will get their bonuses this month.
“It’s unfortunate that I don’t have the schedule for the payment of the bonuses. Minister Chinamasa has a schedule with payment dates but he is out of the country.”

Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa told Chronicle: “I’m not aware that nurses will not get their bonuses. I’m out of the country at the moment but I will check with the minister responsible.”

The bonus was calculated using the existing tax thresholds due to delays in the announcement of the 2014 National Budget. Minister Chinamasa has said that the delays are to allow for wider consultations.

Civil servants are already assured of a salary increment in the new year after the Zanu-PF government said the lowest paid public sector worker – currently earning $297 – would take home $540.

The Poverty Datum Line (PDL), which is the consumer basket for a family of six, stands at $540 per month and this is the threshold civil servants set in their position paper.

Civil servants failed to get a meaningful salary increment for the past five years due to policy inconsistencies by MDC-T ministers in the then inclusive Government.

The then Finance Minister Tendai Biti repeatedly told civil servants that the government was broke while the then Public Service Minister Lucia Matibenga arrogantly evaded the workers in times of negotiations.

President Mugabe has indicated, on different platforms, that the new Zanu-PF government prioritises the welfare of civil servants and would improve them.