Civil Servants’ Christmas Spoiled as Zimbabwe Delays Salaries Again

Civil Servants’ Christmas Spoiled as Zimbabwe Delays Salaries Again

The Zimbabwean government has failed to pay civil servants, including teachers, their salaries on time for the second consecutive month, leaving many in financial distress just days before Christmas.

Civil servants were expecting their December salaries this week, but as the holiday season looms, their bank accounts remain empty. This follows a similar scenario last month when many government workers received their Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) payments late, while the U.S. dollar portion of their salaries and bonuses never materialized.

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) sounded the alarm on Wednesday, sharing their frustrations on social media. The union painted a grim picture of civil servants’ struggles, accusing the government of neglecting its workers.

“For the second month in a row, the Zimbabwean government has failed to pay civil servants’ salaries on time. Civil servants are already earning paltry salaries and are battling to make ends meet. Festive season was struck off the calendar of government workers way back. Unfortunately, the late payment of salaries adds a new layer of pain to the exploited government employees. Failing to meet the basics for survival when others are swimming in plenty is torturous,” said ARTUZ.

The union warned that its members have endured enough and signaled their readiness to take action in 2025 if their grievances are ignored. Teachers are demanding an increase in pay, seeking a minimum monthly salary of US$1,260, a sharp rise from the current average of US$300.

“We are not in the habit of making empty threats. The anger from the civil servants is reaching the boiling point. 2025 will be a difficult year for those who steal from the poor. We will organize and demand fair wages paid on time,” ARTUZ said.

Efforts to reach officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for comment were unsuccessful at the time of writing.

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