Teachers have expressed scepticism over an announcement by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube that civil servants will get their bonuses this year.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PUTZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe characterised the bonus as a curse. He said:
That bonus is a curse. It will worsen our plight because every service provider will be increasing prices tracking the bonus that will be paid and the civil servants will be worse off.
Ncube announced over the weekend that civil servants will get their 2019 13th cheque “thanks to austerity”.
The statement, posted on Twitter, was met with anger by hard-pressed public workers who considered Ncube highly insensitive to claim that austerity has been beneficial when in fact, it has worsened their suffering.