Zimbabwe MP asks why government pays soldiers, and not teachers, first

The government has been failing to pay civil servants on time over the past few months and usually starts with the uniformed services.

Most people believe this is to pacify them as a disgruntled army can spark a revolt or might not intervene in the case of a revolt.

Q & A

*HON. MUTSEYAMI: Thank you Madam Speaker.  My supplementary question is directed to the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Services.  He spoke about civil servants as regards the Civil Service salaries. What criteria do you use to first pay the soldiers and the army, followed by the CIO and lastly pay the teachers?  You use the armed forces whenever you have challenges in paying.  When you have difficulties with cash flows, why do you not start with the teachers and the nurses and lastly you pay the army and the police?  What criteria do you use to pay these civil servants in the various categories?  I thank you.

*HON. ENG. MATANGAIDZE:  Thank you Madam Speaker.  Thank you Hon. Mutseyami.  If we look back in the past years, Government workers are not paid on the same day.  It is because of the cash flow that I earlier on mentioned.  So, traditionally the army or the uniformed forces would be paid around the 15th and so on.  The staggering of salaries has been the culture.  The suggestion that is being given by Hon. Mutseyami is that maybe in future we should start with the teachers and other sectors instead of the uniformed forces.  It is a suggestion that is being brought to us as the Executive to see if it can be looked and see if that would be acceptable.  We will take it up to the Apex Council.  I thank you.

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