Panicky govt issues bonus payment plan

via Panicky govt issues bonus payment plan. 8 January 2015

CASH STRAPPED government has staggered the payment of bonuses to civil servants minus the education sector who have already received their share amid mounting fears of a crippling strike in the health sector.

The penniless state which failed to pay its civil servants their bonus last year, said it will now pay those in the health sector on January 14 with the rest of the public servants expected to get theirs on January 23.

Acting Public service minister, Walter Mzembi told a press briefing in the capital that the Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa had assured him of government’s willingness to pay the 13th cheque for nurses and doctors next week Monday over their bonus.

“Cognizant of the cash flow challenges treasury is experiencing, government remains committed to paying its obligations to civil servants as promised. The health sector inclusive of related Grant Aided Institutions will get their bonuses on the 14 of this month while the rest of the civil service also inclusive of the Grant Aided Institutions will get their bonus on 23 January,” Mzembi said.

The move comes at a time when doctors and nurses were threatening to down tools over the same issue while also calling on the government to again honour its promise to improve their salaries and on all allowances.

“The promise will be honoured and be fulfilled without fail,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) had on Tuesday given government an ultimatum to pay outstanding bonuses by this Friday before nurses withdraw their services by Monday next week if their grievances were not met.

Late last year, government indicated that it would pay the bonuses to all civil servants by January 2, but the pledge was not fulfilled prompting teachers to threaten a crippling strike.

As a way to avert the industrial action, the broke state paid those in the education sector first only to be told that even those in the health sector are planning a similar action over their bonuses.