We, the members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), together with concerned civil servants across all sectors, write to you in terms of our constitutional right to petition public authorities, to express deep concern over the continued deterioration of salaries and the failure by the Ministry to fulfil commitments made to civil servants.
The Honourable Minister publicly indicated that civil servants’ salaries would be reviewed and increased before the end of the first quarter of 2026. Upon the lapse of this timeline, the position shifted to awaiting a job evaluation report. As the first quarter comes to an end, no meaningful salary adjustment has been effected, leaving workers in a prolonged state of economic distress and uncertainty.
We note with concern statements by David Mnangagwa asserting that civil service salaries are now “competitive.” This claim is fundamentally inconsistent with the lived realities of workers and verifiable economic indicators in Zimbabwe.
The Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for an average family of five has consistently ranged between USD 1000 and USD 1260. Currently, the average civil servant earns approximately USD 250 to USD 300, representing a severe wage deficit below subsistence levels.
Furthermore, inflationary pressures, currency instability, and the rising cost of basic commodities continue to erode the real value of wages. A poorly remunerated workforce cannot effectively deliver quality services, thereby compromising the functioning of the nation.
OUR DEMANDS:
- Immediate review and adjustment of civil servants’ salaries to a minimum of USD 1 260 in line with the teacher's basket of needs.
- Implementation of a transparent and time-bound salary review mechanism indexed to inflation and cost-of-living metrics.
- Engagement with unions and stakeholders in good faith to resolve the ongoing salary crisis.
We emphasize that the delay in addressing these issues continues to deepen the crisis within all sectors. Civil servants can no longer sustain their livelihoods under the current conditions, and the situation demands urgent and decisive intervention.
To this end, we call upon all civil servants—teachers, nurses, administrative staff, and security services—to append their signatures to this petition and join this collective call for justice.
