(Last Updated on February 16, 2016 by Editor)
“Yes, we have been paid our bonuses today (yesterday). It has reflected in our accounts,” one soldier confirmed yesterday.
A Public Service Commission pay schedule leaked to NewsDay also confirmed that soldiers had indeed been paid.
According to the schedule, members of the ZNA and Air Force of Zimbabwe received their bonuses yesterday, while police, prison services, and health personnel would be paid in March.
The education sector will get bonuses in April and the rest of the civil service in May, according to the schedule.
The circular also released pay days for civil servants for this month.
“Zimbabwe National Army and Air Force pay day will be February 15, 2016. Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Prison Services pay day (February 18, 2016), Health sector (February 22, 2016), Education (February 24, 2016), rest of civil service (February 29, 2016), pensioners (March 7, 2016) and grant-aided institutions (March 9, 2016),” part of the circular read.
The schedule was released after the National Joint Negotiating Council meeting on February 10.
The financially hamstrung government has been struggling to raise money for civil servants’ bonuses since last November, after initially being forced to stagger salaries for its workers, with teachers and some of the civil servants receiving their December salaries in January this year.
The delay in paying salaries triggered unrest among civil servants, with some sectors threatening a crippling industrial action.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association chief executive officer Sifiso Ndlovu confirmed said they had been officially given the bonus pay schedules by the Public Service Commission.
“That information was given to us officially. We are happy that government will now honour its pledge. We would like to congratulate them for setting an example as a good employer who meets his promises,” Ndluvu said.
Public Service minister Prisca Mupfumira could not be reached for comment as her mobile phone went unanswered.