Mugabe honours promise as unhappy workers smile to the bank

Civil servants in Zimbabwe have finally been paid their delayed salaries after days of strike which resulted in the shut down of the country last week.

Teachers, who went on strike way before the civil servants, will get their bonuses on Friday, according to the country’s education ministry on Wednesday.

President Robert Mugabe promised last week that his government will address the salary delay which is temporary and caused by sanctions the country is facing from the West.

“Those who go on strike, they do not understand our problems. It does not mean we are poor, but we are getting our money late because of sanctions. Businesses are not banking their money. This is where we take the money to pay our civil servants,” Mugabe said at a rally.

The finance minister announced the payment dates in a statement on Wednesday including that of the striking teachers and pensioners.

“Pension obligations for the month of June 2016 are being paid on July 19, 2016, while salary payment date for staff under grant aided institutions is July 21, 2016,” the finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa said.

According to local media, Chronicle, some civil servants have confirmed their salaries have reflected in their bank accounts.

Salaries in Zimbabwe are normally paid in the mid of every month, but last month’s payment delayed and as a result the government was forced to give a $100 salary advance to cushion the economic effect.

Workers were however paid in batches with the army receiving their salaries on June 27 followed by the police and prison officers on June 30. Education workers were paid on July 7 and doctors and nurses received theirs on July 8.