Duty-free car importation scheme for civil servants

Zimbabwe government is proposing a duty-free car import scheme for civil servants with effect from January next year. Highly-placed  sources say this is part of Government's efforts to boost its workers' morale through non-monetary benefits.

The Government is also reintroducing a car loan scheme for senior civil servants where they receive loans of up to US$7 000 payable within 10 years.

Sources say Government accepted the proposals by the Public Service Commission and was now engaging other stakeholders.

"It is common knowledge that the idea of improving the workers' (civil servants) welfare is still going on and this is one of the things that have been considered to help the employees. The facility will see those who are capable of buying vehicles bringing them into the country duty-free," said the source.

"The Government is engaging various stakeholders involved in the process such as Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to see how they can assist in the scheme. The whole idea is to cushion the workers who have suffered for long," the source said.

Government has since crafted a "watertight" mechanism to curb abuse.

"Obviously when such opportunities come, many people would abuse the facility and Government is working on modalities to see how the abuse can be stopped. One has to produce the necessary requirements for him to import the vehicle," said the source.

Acting Public Service Minister Nelson Chamisa and his deputy Andrew Langa could neither confirm nor deny the proposed scheme, but referred all questions to PSC chairperson Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwah.

Dr Nzuwah could not be reached for comment yesterday as his phone was not reachable.

However, Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche confirmed Government was considering non-monetary incentives for its workers.

"I am not the Minister of Public Service, but I can confirm these are some of the non-monetary incentives being considered," he said.

Commenting on the vehicle loan scheme for senior civil servants, Deputy Minister Langa said the facility will benefit deputy directors and above.

"The US$7 000 will be payable after 10 years and it will be for those from the grade of the deputy director and above. We have limited resources, but the aim is to make sure the scheme cascades down to the other grades.

"It might appear as if it is not fair, but we have realised their offices are too mobile hence the reason for giving them priority. With the efforts the Government is putting, more workers will benefit," he said.

The Government has been struggling to raise non-monetary incentives promised to civil servants last year by the late Public Service Minister Eliphas Mukonoweshuro.

It promised to unveil a housing loan guarantee scheme, mobility scheme and a pension fund for civil servants among others.

The workers have been agitating for improved working conditions for the past two years without success as Finance Minister Tendai Biti repeatedly told them that Government was broke.

However, their salaries were reviewed upwards in July after the intervention of President Mugabe in a move that resulted in the least-paid Government employee getting an average of US$253.

Civil servants also qualify to be allocated new flats built along Willowvale Road, which were officially commissioned by President Mugabe recently.