Tinotenda Hove – Civil servants are set to receive a new round of salary adjustments early next year, with the Government announcing plans for a pay increase in the first quarter of 2026. The announcement comes as authorities are finalising the payment cycle of the US$150 Special Presidential bonuses.

The staggered bonus payments, which cover members of the Public Service including uniformed forces, pensioners and traditional leaders, are expected to be completed by the end of this month. Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube confirmed the planned salary adjustments while addressing Parliament last week.

Despite the announcement, the response from civil servants has been cautious, with many expressing skepticism after years of eroded wages and rising living costs. “We hear these promises every budget season, but our salaries still fail to meet basic needs,” said a government employee based in Harare. “A pay rise on paper does not always translate into real relief.”

Another civil servant questioned the timing and intent of the announcement. “They talk about bonuses and salary increases, but prices continue to go up,” said a teacher. “It feels like the Government wants appreciation and loyalty without addressing the real cost-of-living crisis we face every day.”

Some workers also linked the promised increase to political expectations rather than genuine concern for welfare. “We are expected to be grateful and loyal, yet our take-home pay keeps shrinking,” said a health worker. “What civil servants want is consistent, meaningful remuneration, not announcements that don’t change our situation.”

As the Government pushes ahead with plans for salary adjustments, many civil servants say they will judge the pledge not by statements made in Parliament, but by whether the promised increases translate into tangible improvements in their monthly payslips.