SSB fails to pay back civil servants’ money

via SSB fails to pay back civil servants’ money – The Zimbabwean 9 July 2015 by Pamenus Tuso

The Salaries Services Bureau (SSB), which processes civil servants salaries, is failing to remit monthly deductions to banks in repayment of individual loans.

This has compelled some banks to compel civil servants to repay their loans in cash, despite the loans having been deducted from their salaries under a stop order facility.

This week, one of the commercial banks sent bulk text messages to civil servants whose loans are in arrears, summoning them to their various branches throughout the country to discuss cash repayment arrangements. “Dear client, Please contact us to discuss payment arrangements on your loan account. Call Farai or Tichaona on (04) 793420,” reads part of the text message seen by The Zimbabwean.

Some civil servants told this newspaper that for the past three months the SSB had continued to deduct money from their salaries but had not been transferring the money to the banks for repayment of the loans.

“In January this year, I borrowed $2000 from my bank. My pay slip indicates that SSB is deducting $150 every month towards the servicing of this loan. I find it unfair and strange for the bank to ask me to pay them extra cash when we have a standing agreement that they are supposed to get their money from the SSB,” said a civil servant who cannot be named for fear of victimisation.

Some banks who are owed money by civil servants have resorted to deducting money from salaries deposited in their accounts – disregarding the stop order facility. “Last month I earned three quarters of my salary because the bank deducted their loan direct from my salary. SSB also deducted money for the same thing. What these banks are doing is unethical because they are the ones who are supposed to chase their payment with SSB. They are the ones who created this facility with SSB and they must find each without making us suffer,” said another civil servant.

The government has been battling to pay salaries for civil servants due to a biting cash shortage. The SSB has also failed to remit millions of dollars deducted from civil servants for payment of debts to various other institutions such as clothing and furniture retailers and medical aid companies.