by Rudo Saungweme
Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube has today presented the 2019 budget speech which approved the long awaited payment of the 13th cheque to civil servants. Prof Ncube said the budget running under the theme, “Austerity for Prosperity” is in line with the new dispensation`s mantra of transforming the country into an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030.
Professor Ncube said, “With regard to the 13th Cheque payment, Government recognises that this is an integral component of the Remuneration Framework. Government appreciates the hard work its employees render in their various portfolios and services.”
“For 2018 in particular, we close the year at a time when employees face a number of hardships. Accordingly, Government has taken the position that bonus be payable for 2018, with commitment that these payments be processed before year end,” he added.
The payment of the 13th Cheque was applauded by many saying that it has come at the right time when people plan to visit their parents and relatives which is the festive season.
Professor Ncube said that the New Dispensation developed a short term stabilisation strategy that will be used in the road to economic development which is the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP). He indicated that according to the TSP, the country must cut Government expenditure and will be achieved by living within means among other things.
“The 2019 Budget, consistent with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, places emphasis on living within our means by instilling fiscal discipline and rationalising expenditures in order to create additional financial capacity for funding developmental expenditures and enhancing delivery of public services”
The cutting of Government expenditure has seen salaries of Principal Directors, Permanent Secretaries and their equivalents up to Deputy Ministers, Ministers and the Presidium being cut by 5 percent. A standardisation exercise in remuneration including benefits for Constitutional Commissions, will also be undertaken to remove inequity and disparities.
