Source: Chinamasa proposes to shelve bonus, close some embassies | The Financial Gazette September 9, 2016
FINANCE Minister Patrick Chinamasa has proposed to cut 25 000 state jobs, defer the 2016 and 2017 civil service bonuses and close some embassies in a move that could save the cash-strapped government at least US$335 million annually over the next two years.
Zimbabwe is battling an excessive public sector wage bill which gobbles 97 cents of every dollar the government collects. The southern African nation finances its budget entirely through taxes as international money lenders stay away over its failure to service debts. It owes foreign debtors US$7,5 billion; 80 percent of that in arrears.
The government also ran up a US$623,2 million budget deficit in the first six months of 2016, which Chinamasa warned could widen to US$1 billion by the end of the year.
Presenting a mid-term fiscal policy review on Thursday, Chinamasa said the proposal which includes the trimming of diplomatic missions would lower employment costs to US$232 million per month by June 2017 and US$219 million by December 2017.
“This reduction is proposed to be achieved largely through downsizing the civil service from the current level of 298 000, hence, it is important for the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare as well as the Service Commissions to initiate the rationalisation process to enable me to reflect this in the 2017 Budget,” Chinamasa said.
“In consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (we will) review benefits for diplomatic staff, including support for educational expenses, rental ceilings and travel support for children of diplomats”.
The proposed rationalisation of the civil service will bring down the size of the work force to 273 000 from the current 298 000, yielding annual savings of US$155 million, while the bonus suspension will save an additional US$180 million. The Source
COMMENTS
CUT DOWN ON THE PIRATE PILOT’s TRAVELS AS WELL!
After stealing the 2013 elections ZANU POOF thought it was clever. They have run out of methods of stealing . Well then again there is nothing left to steal. Companies that generated revenue for Gvt are gone. Den of thieves is now totally broke.
How about the largest cabinet in the world? Is it ever going to be reduced regionally & internationally accepted levels?
One can imagine a country of +/_ 9million people (since more than 4 million are known to be in diaspora) boasting of a cabinet larger than countries know to have +/_ 50 million people – such as SA of course.
How about the unlimited state financed first family escapades – ranging from shopping sprees all over the world to paying lobola to sons-in-law to ensure that the daughters are never divorced – for whatever reason? Hanzi ungamuramba sei mwanasikana wangu (chero akahura) ini ndakakurovora? Sure kurovora vakuwasha nemari yenyika.