… as Govt awards 40% salary hike

The Zimbabwean Government says it has awarded civil servants a 40% salary increase effective from November 1 this year as part of continued efforts to improve conditions of service for civil servants.

But the authority have skated mentioning if the “Covid-19 allowances”, which were promised at least until the end of this year, will continue or not.

The latest increase will see the lowest paid civil servant earning ZWL$14 528 while the basic salary for a teacher is now ZWL$18 237.

Said Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday:

“Noting its obligations to pay a decent wage, Government has reviewed upwards the  salary increase offer to Civil Servants to 40% which will be awarded to Deputy Director grade and below. In addition to the salary increase, the teachers will also be awarded a 10% risk allowance.

“The new  basic salary package for the teacher is now ZW$18 237, which is above the Poverty Datum Line (PDL). This means that the  compounded review percentage of the teacher grade salary is 1 284% since the beginning of the year. The lowest paid civil servant will receive a salary of ZW$14 528.

“This is effective from November 1, 2020.”

Last month, Public Service Commission secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said the Covid-19 allowances (which were previously paid in United States dollars) would now be indexed to the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) foreign exchange rate and paid in local currency alongside civil servants’ basic salaries.

That means teachers, for example, will now be earning the indicated basic salary of ZW$18 237, as well as the Covid-19 allowance of ZWL$6 125 (according to the latest foreign currency exchange rate of 81.67).