Tinotenda Hove- Civil servants in Zimbabwe are drowning in debt as loan sharks take advantage of their financial desperation, with some reportedly collaborating with the Salary Service Bureau (SSB) to deduct repayments directly from workers’ salaries.

Earning an average of only US$250 a month—down from about US$550 in 2018—many government employees are left with no option but to borrow at exorbitant rates. In extreme cases, some have handed over their bank cards to lenders, who then withdraw their entire wages as soon as salaries are deposited.

According to labour unions, these practices are not isolated but part of a wider network involving politically connected individuals and senior officials, making it almost impossible for workers to escape the debt trap.

Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) Secretary-General David Dzatsunga said both formal and underground lenders are circling civil servants, treating them as easy prey.

“Civil servants are regarded as low-hanging fruit because they have a guaranteed salary, even though it is very little,” Dzatsunga said. “Loan sharks know they will get their US$200 or US$300 each month without fail, leaving workers with almost nothing to survive on.”

He added that some registered financial institutions have gained access to the SSB system, allowing them to take repayments before workers even see their wages.

Dzatsunga stressed that the root cause is starvation-level pay, which has driven public workers into the clutches of predatory lenders.

“This cycle of debt is a direct consequence of the slave wages our members are being paid,” he said. “Because salaries cannot cover even the most basic needs, workers are left with no choice but to borrow, and once they do, breaking free becomes nearly impossible.”