Tinotenda Hove – The Government of Zimbabwe’s latest promise of improved salaries and pensions has been met with deep skepticism, as civil servants accuse authorities of recycling old pledges that have repeatedly failed to materialise.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo this week announced that a new remuneration framework for civil servants and pensioners will take effect this April, describing it as part of efforts to improve welfare and working conditions across the public sector.

According to Moyo, the proposed changes follow a comprehensive job evaluation process and are aligned with the government’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.

However, many civil servants say they are not convinced, pointing to a long history of unfulfilled salary review promises and deteriorating living conditions.

“We have heard these promises before, and nothing ever changes,” said one civil servant who requested anonymity. “April will come and go, and we will still be earning salaries that cannot sustain our families.”

Another worker expressed frustration over what they described as government’s failure to match words with action.

“They always talk about frameworks and strategies, but on the ground, we are suffering. Prices are going up every day, but our salaries remain the same,” the worker said.

Pensioners, who have also been included in the government’s announcement, echoed similar concerns, saying previous adjustments have done little to cushion them against the rising cost of living.

A retired public servant said: “We have been promised reviews many times, but our pensions are still not enough. It feels like we are being forgotten.”

Critics argue that the government’s repeated announcements without tangible implementation have eroded trust among workers, leaving many doubtful that the latest pledge will bring meaningful change.

“As long as there is no real commitment to implementation, these announcements are just public relations exercises,” said another civil servant. “We need action, not speeches.”

The latest declaration comes against a backdrop of growing economic pressure, with civil servants increasingly struggling to make ends meet, further fueling doubts over whether the promised “April joy” will amount to anything more than rhetoric.