Government yesterday began paying civil servants salaries at the new rates which were “agreed” on at the collective bargaining with the workers representatives last month.

Nurses, prison officers, members of the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police officers and those from the Air Force of Zimbabwe started accessing their salaries yesterday with an increment of up to $129, depending on grades.

Those in the education sector will get their dues tomorrow, while the rest of the civil service and pensioners are going to be paid on April 24 and 26, respectively.

The cost of living adjustment came after Government offered a package of $400 million to be shared amongst the workers between April and December.

The latest arrangement means the least-paid Government worker is getting $600, which is however still far lower than the $1000 which the workers were demanding.

Another salary review is expected mid-year.

Of the $400 million offered to the workers by Government, the Public Service Commission (PSC), including the uniformed forces, have been allocated $281 million, the Health Services Board will get $56,8 million, while the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) gets $2,5 million.

Independent commissions and grant-aided institutions get $2,6 million and $56,8 million, respectively.

Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (ZINA) secretary-general Mr Enock Dongo weighed in: “Yes, there has been an increment and Government has honoured its pledge but the price issues are worrying and if nothing is done we are going to die because we are struggling.”

State Media \ZimEye.com