Zimbabwe's finance minister told parliament that government workers are getting pay bumps during the first three months of next year, and those raises will eat up most of the unallocated reserve cash that lawmakers thought was sitting around. Mthuli Ncube said the salary adjustments are based on job evaluation work, and treasury is wrapping up bonus payments for public servants, pensioners, and traditional leaders by month's end.
Legislators wanted more money thrown at the education assistance program, but Ncube said the cabinet ordered an audit first because connected people are gaming the system instead of actual vulnerable families getting help. The program's budget doubled from last year, but he mentioned that free government schools might make some of the supposed arrears not even real debts anymore.
Parliament's budget got boosted by an extra chunk of change after representatives argued they need resources for constituency research and international trips.
Legislators wanted more money thrown at the education assistance program, but Ncube said the cabinet ordered an audit first because connected people are gaming the system instead of actual vulnerable families getting help. The program's budget doubled from last year, but he mentioned that free government schools might make some of the supposed arrears not even real debts anymore.
Parliament's budget got boosted by an extra chunk of change after representatives argued they need resources for constituency research and international trips.
