Staff Reporter
Civil servants are set to receive a salary adjustment as the Government moves to cushion workers from the impact of the recent devaluation of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.
This announcement was made by Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, yesterday, during an interview on the sidelines of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Prof. Ncube confirmed that the Government is actively negotiating new wage levels for public servants following the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's (RBZ) 42.55 percent adjustment of the ZiG exchange rate against the United States dollar.
“We are already negotiating through the Tripartite Negotiating Forum to adjust the wages of civil servants. Hopefully, we will reach an agreement soon, and then we can move forward and assist the civil servants,” said Prof. Ncube.
The Minister also noted that the adjustments would take place before the end of the year and that these changes would improve the purchasing power of workers, both in the public and private sectors.
“Wages have to be adjusted to improve the buying power of workers. That is what happens when a currency is adjusted, it causes negative impacts but also has positive impacts on the business front. We are determined to save jobs in our formal economy,” added Prof. Ncube.
In addition to addressing wage adjustments, Prof. Ncube touched on corrective measures to curb the resurgence of black-market activities, emphasising that these measures would soon be implemented, as referenced in President Mnangagwa's address.
The announcement of salary adjustments has been welcomed by civil servants, who have long struggled with wages that have failed to keep pace with inflation and the falling value of the local currency.
Speaking to The Harare Post, a primary school teacher from Harare, Maria Moyo, said the salary adjustment was crucial for the survival of public sector workers.
“Our salaries have been eroded by inflation, and we can barely afford basic necessities. The adjustment is important for us to continue working and supporting our families. It’s a step in the right direction, but we hope the Government moves quickly to implement it,” she said.
Another civil servant, John Mutizwa, a nurse in Bulawayo, echoed similar sentiments.
“We have been waiting for this for a long time. With the high cost of living and the weakening of the ZiG, it has become impossible to make ends meet. Adjusting our salaries is vital not only for us but also for the efficient functioning of public services. When civil servants are struggling, the whole system suffers,” said Mutizwa.
As the Government continues to explore avenues to stabilise the economy, the announcement of impending salary adjustments for civil servants offers a glimmer of hope for improved living conditions in the face of rising inflation and currency volatility.
