Civil servants to receive double bonuses starting Friday

Public sector workers will start receiving their 2025 annual bonuses this Friday, with the first instalment of 50 percent being paid together with November salaries and the remainder coming in December.

In addition to the regular 13th cheque, Government employees will also receive a once-off Special Presidential Bonus of US$150, courtesy of President Mnangagwa. Half of this amount will be disbursed this month, with the balance paid out next month. The split arrangement is intended to ease pressure on the banking system, reduce queues, and ensure smooth cash flow management across the public sector.

As has become tradition, payments will begin with members of the security services before extending to employees in the health and education sectors and eventually cascading to the rest of the civil service. Traditional leaders and their messengers will also receive their annual bonuses, maintaining a practice introduced in recent years.

The announcement has been warmly received across the public service, as the double bonus comes at a time when many families are preparing for the festive season. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Simon Masanga, said Government had already implemented the agreed measures following deliberations under the National Joint Negotiating Council.

"It was agreed that public workers are getting both bonuses and, certainly, it is joy for them. The specific payment modalities are managed under Treasury, but one thing for sure, the payments will be done," said Mr Masanga. He added that while Treasury determines the timing of disbursements, the bonus payments are guaranteed and reflect Government's commitment to motivate its workforce.

"Definitely, public service workers are going to get their regular bonuses without fail. It had become common that the bonus is split between November and December, but this is a Treasury decision based on economic management. Certainly, that 13th cheque is coming," he said.

In October, Government announced that all civil servants would receive their annual 13th cheque as usual, in addition to the Special Presidential Bonus. The additional US$150 package forms part of a broader welfare programme for public workers, which also includes restoration of the vehicle rebate scheme to 2022 benefit levels effective December 1, 2025, recapitalisation of the Premier Service Medical Aid Society to improve healthcare access, and allocation of 26 000 housing stands in Harare and Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander commended the gesture, describing it as a reflection of President Mnangagwa's appreciation for the dedication of public workers. "We extend our sincere gratitude to His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, for the Presidential Bonus awarded to civil servants. This gesture demonstrates his appreciation for our hard work and commitment to public service," she said.

For many workers, the double bonus could not have come at a better time. A Government employee based in Gweru, Mr Tendai Muchinarwo, said he was eagerly awaiting his payout, though he would have preferred receiving it all at once so he could drill a borehole at his home. In Bulawayo, teacher Mrs Spiwe Nyakonda said the extra income would help her prepare for her son's school expenses. "I am very happy that we are getting both bonuses. It will really cushion us, especially now that I have to pay school fees and uniforms for my son who just wrote Grade Seven exams. With the eMAP now open, I need to be ready for Form One enrolment," she said.

Meanwhile, the stability of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency continues to bring relief to workers and the general public, complementing Government's ongoing efforts to strengthen the economy and improve the welfare of civil servants.