Ziyambi Says There Is No Immediate Need To Review Civil Servants’ Salaries

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, has said there is no immediate need for the government to revise thecost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for civil servants, citing stable inflation and a firm Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.

Ziyambi made the remarks while responding to concerns raised by legislators about the erosion of public sector salaries amid rising living costs.

He was speaking in his capacity as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament. Said Ziyambi:

Perhaps, let me preface by saying that there has not been a general increase in prices in this country. Statistics that we have on inflation do not indicate that.

Even our currency is very stable, and the prices have largely not risen to levels that we can say indicate that we need a cost-of-living adjustment.

Ziyambi’s remarks come amid growing pressure from civil servants and labour unions, who argue that salaries have failed to keep pace with the cost of essential goods and services, including housing, transport and food.

Teachers, nurses and other public sector workers have periodically voiced frustration over the government’s delay in adjusting salaries upwards.

Ziyambi said salary negotiations are ongoing within the framework of the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), a platform comprising government, labour and business representatives.

The TNF, mandated to promote inclusive dialogue on socio-economic matters, has in recent years struggled to produce timely resolutions, raising concerns over its effectiveness.

On Monday, 14 July, civil servants staged a flash protest at the New Government Complex, marching to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to demand salary increases in the upcoming mid-term budget.

The protesters were demanding that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube address public sector salaries in his fiscal policy update.

Although Ncube was reportedly away, the protesters met Deputy Minister Kudakwashe Mnangagwa.

More: New Ziana

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