Zimpapers Logo

Teachers and nurses got an average of US$100.
Their representatives confirmed the increase yesterday and lauded the President for honouring his promise.

Teachers got their new salaries yesterday, while uniformed forces who received theirs earlier before the new schedule was released, will be paid their balances.
Nurses receive their new salaries today.

This development comes barely a week after Finance Minister Tendai Biti told Parliament that there will be no supplementary budget to accommodate the increments citing dry coffers.

“I can confirm that our members have received that increment. As a union, we are very grateful. This is a positive move. It is better than nothing and it goes to reflect the Head of State’s promise that we should expect something in June, which was then deposited in our accounts this month.
“This will go a long way in cushioning us,” said Teachers Union of Zimbabwe executive officer, Mr Manuel Nyawo.

RELATED

• No extra budget for civil servants: Biti
• MANHERU: Civil Servants Pay: Goading the masses, cuddling the IMF
  

DISCUSS ON FACEBOOK

“This is coming at a time when some people are saying there is no money in Treasury,” he said.
Said Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association public relations manager Daisy Zambuko: “We can confirm that our members have been given an increment and are happy.”
The lowest-paid Government worker, who used to get US$128, got US$253 yesterday.

Early this month, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda indicated that principals to the inclusive Government had endorsed the salary increase.
This was after President Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara met on July 6 to discuss among other issues the civil servants salary review.

“The principals recalled that Cabinet agreed that the salaries for civil servants must be reviewed upwards as a matter of urgency. The principals noted also the agreement signed by parties to the National Joint Negotiating Council on 1st July, 2011 regarding salary and conditions of service for civil servants,” Dr Sibanda said then.

He said the principals agreed that the salary review for civil servants must be implemented using the entry point of the least-paid in Grade B1 as the benchmark.
Dr Sibanda announced the basic salary as US$159, transport allowance US$44 and housing allowance US$50 with US$253 as the total package.

Confusion over civil servants’ salaries emerged after the National Joint Negotiating Council announced that the salaries had been reviewed upwards.
However, PM Tsvangirai and Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, dismissed the announce- ment.

Minister Biti has also been insisting that there was no money to increase public servants’ salaries.
The Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions commended President Mugabe for authorising the salary increase.

ZFTU secretary-general, Mr Kennias Shamuyarira, said President Mugabe had shown the “immutable example” to all employers in the country.
“Authorising the increment at a difficult time in our economic recovery programme demonstrates beyond doubt that our President is compassionate and flexible on issues affecting ordinary people.

“As ZFTU, we wish to restate our unreserved support to his Government through the structures and process, which the previous Minister of Labour worked tirelessly to establish,” he said.
Mr Shamuyarira said employers in the private sector should emulate President Mugabe on issues affecting their workers.
He urged civil servants to remain committed to their duties while Government continues to look into their concerns.