Govt ups civil servants offer to $350 million

GOVERNMENT has further increased its salary offer to civil servants from $300 million to $350 million amid reports that a deal is likely to be hammered when the two parties meet again on Tuesday.

The employer met civil servants’ representatives on Tuesday and yesterday under the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) to continue with their salary negotiations.

Yesterday’s meeting included officials from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, who were unpacking the monetary policy the central bank presented recently and the current exchange rates.

Government tabled an improved offer of $350 million which is set to shared by workers in the civil service as an increment from April to December this year.

The employer is also working on increasing sector-specific allowances for its workers beginning April.

Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecelia Alexander said discussions were still ongoing.

“We have not yet finalised and we still hope that there will be some improvement,” she said, declining to reveal the new Government offer.

“It is our hope that on Tuesday we are going to bring finality to this issue of the cost of living adjustment. In today’s (yesterday) meeting we invited the RBZ which was unpacking the Monetary Policy Statement and issues around the exchange rate. We hope the presentations made will guide our members.”

A source who attended the NJNC, however, said: “Government brought a revised figure of $350 million and the workers are likely to put pen to paper on Tuesday when we meet again,” said the source.

“The workers appreciate Government efforts in trying to give the best to its workers. Various non-monetary incentives are being worked on and they are coming into fruition with the latest being that of duty-free cars.” Government has given civil servants the green light to import cars duty

GOVERNMENT is embarking on several dam projects at a cost of $500 million in a bid to ensure water security in light of climate change.

It has since floated an international tender for the construction of 19 major water infrastructure facilities, including dams and water purification structures to enhance agricultural production and meet the demands of the growing urban population.

Under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), Government is also focusing on expediting completion of ongoing infrastructural projects with a view to contributing to the revival of the economy.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) public relations manager Mrs Marjory Munyonga told The Her

ald this week that the projects were being funded through the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).

“ZINWA is carrying out dam projects around the country, which are being funded through the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). The dam projects are expected to lead to socio-economic development in the areas of food security, power generation, domestic water provision and tourism,” she said.

“Some of the dams under construction include Marowanyati Dam which is being constructed in Manicaland’s district of Buhera. The dam is now substantially complete and has already started impounding water.”

Mrs Munyonga said the dam will become a long-term raw water source for the expanding Murambinda Growth Point.

It will also irrigate 1 250 hectares downstream in a development that will lead to improved food security in the drought prone district.

The dam will also supply raw water to Dorowa Mine.

The Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province, is also under construction.

It is poised to become Zimbabwe’s third largest inland dam after Tugwi-Mukosi and Mutirikwi Dams in Masvingo Province.

“The dam is expected to spur irrigation activity in the arid Matabeleland North Province. The dam is also expected to help alleviate raw water challenges in Bulawayo as a pipeline conveying water from the dam to the country’s second capital shall also be constructed,” she said.

“The construction of the pipeline will also create a greenbelt along the way since offtakes will be made to allow communities between the dam and Bulawayo to access water in line with the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management.”

Gwayi-Shangani will on completion produce six megawatts of electricity.

She said the Semwa Dam was being constructed on the Ruya River in the drought-prone Rushinga District Mashonaland Central. The Ruya River forms the boundary of Rushinga and Mt Darwin Districts.

The dam is expected to provide water for around 12 000 hectares in the two districts and it is also going to be the medium to long term source of raw water for the expanding Rushinga and Chimhanda Growth Points.

“The dam therefore has immense potential to bring socio-economic transformation to Mashonaland Central in the areas of food security, poverty alleviation, employment creation and steady water supply for Rushinga and Chimhanda in line with the Government’s vision to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030,” she said.