CIVIL servants and Government pensioners have started
receiving US$75 and US$30 Covid-19 relief allowances, respectively as part of
measures to cushion them from skyrocketing prices of goods.
The Sunday Mail understands that civil servants started
receiving messages from respective banks on Thursday notifying them about the
US dollar deposits. Most civil servants received US$150 for June and July. In
an interview yesterday Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister
Professor Paul Mavima confirmed that the allowances had been disbursed, with
beneficiaries expected to have received their dues by the end of the month.
“People have started receiving their money and we expect
that it should have been distributed to the first batch of people by the end of
this month,” Prof Mavima said.
However, some of the civil servants who have received the
notifications said they were still in the dark on how to use it after their
banks indicated they were still waiting for a directive from the Government.
Banks opened nostro accounts for civil servants and
pensioners, but the Government indicated that the money would not be withdrawn
in physical notes, but through electronic cards that will be used in shops.
“When I went to the bank to enquire, I was told that the
money cannot be withdrawn and neither has the bank come up with separate ATM
cards. The bank said at the moment it is either they will wait for further
clarification or if I wanted to use the money they could convert it to Zimbabwe
dollars at the interbank rate and deposit it into the Zim dollar account,” said
a civil servant who declined to be named.
Prof Mavima, however, said as of now there was no
arrangement with retailers about how the allowances would be used to purchase
goods.
“There is no special arrangement with retailers because
they are already using plastic money and we expect the same to continue with
this arrangement,” he said.
Although Apex Council chair Mrs Cecilia Alexander could not
be reached for comment yesterday, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief
executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said they were still waiting for the
Government to work out modalities around how the funds would be used.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Mr Denford
Mutashu said retailers were still waiting for direction from the Government.
“We are yet to receive any clarity on that issue, but we
expect that by the time that the disbursement is done fully, the Government
would have given direction on how it will work.
“This is basically a first for everyone so more still needs
to be done in terms of mapping how it all works.
“What is encouraging is that price escalation has been
curtailed and prices have stabilised due to a number of interventions
undertaken by authorities like curtailing the level of money supply in the
country.”
Mr Mutashu said product availability seemed to be
improving, with basic goods that were scarce returning to the shelves. Sunday Mail
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