Zimbabwe to fire 3 700 youth officers and save  $19 million

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa today announced that the government is firing 3 739 youth officers and ward development coordinators and will save $1.6 million in wages per month, or $19.3 million a year.

A total of 7 269  youth and ward officers were employed so this will leave some 3 530 on the job.

Chinamasa fired 2 000 youths earlier this year but this was reversed by Mugabe in August saying Chinamasa had done so without cabinet approval.

A further 528 members of the Public Service without the requisite qualifications are being retired. Their severance package will cost $8.7 million.

Chinamasa said all civil servants over the age of 65 will be asked to retire.

The government will also offer a voluntary retirement scheme for those willing to step down.

“Staff that retire will be assisted with access to capital, to facilitate their meaningful contribution towards economic development, including taking advantage of allocated land, for those who are beneficiaries of the land reform programme,” the minister said.

“Furthermore, Government will also introduce a voluntary retirement scheme that serves to rationalise the public service wage bill, whilst providing financial incentives to beneficiaries to engage in economic activities in such areas as farming, and start-up of small business enterprises.”

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