Govt Defends Civil Service Pay: "Lowest-Paid Workers Now Earn Above Poverty Line"
- Southerton Business Times
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Harare, Zimbabwe- The Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, has expressed government satisfaction with current civil service remuneration, asserting that the administration has successfully moved all public workers above the national Poverty Datum Line (PDL).
Responding to inquiries from Senator Teresa Kabondo (Matabeleland North) regarding the timeline for the next salary review, Mnangagwa highlighted that the current "stability" in the economy over the last 18 months has shifted the focus toward maintaining these gains rather than emergency adjustments.
According to the Deputy Minister, the current salary structure for the entry-level civil service grade (such as a cleaner) is built on a hybrid model designed to protect purchasing power against inflation.
Estimated Entry-Level Monthly Remuneration:
USD Component: US$320 (Hard currency allowance).
ZiG Component: Equivalent to approximately US$40 – US$60.
Total Value: Approximately US$360 – US$380.
In a notable shift in narrative, Mnangagwa claimed that the public sector has surpassed the private sector in wage competitiveness. He noted that several private entities have expressed concern that the government is "moving too quickly" with salary increments, making it difficult for smaller businesses to compete for labor.
"The Government does pay better than the private sector at this moment," Mnangagwa stated, emphasizing that the "desert experience" of hyperinflation is being replaced by a commitment to sustainable, PDL-linked wages.
Despite the stated satisfaction, the Deputy Minister confirmed that negotiations between the government and the Apex Council (representing civil servants) remain open.
The Goal: To ensure the lowest-paid worker never slips back below the PDL.
The Mechanism: Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) will be triggered if economic stability wavers, though no immediate review date was set.
Civil service salaries Zimbabwe 2026
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