CIVIL servants across the country are reportedly struggling to secure basic commodities as prices continue to escalate, Zim Morning Post can report.
Civil servants this week started receiving their salaries amid astronomical rises in goods and services.
Government workers’ salaries have suffered a knock as the value of the local currency continues to tumble against the green buck on the illegal foreign market.
Their salaries can no longer match items needed to complete the basket of groceries of a particular family members as per Consumer Council of Zimbabwe recommendations.
On Tuesday civil servants – among them members of the security forces – were livid on many social media platforms, lambasting government of giving them salaries which they said were now worthless.
High inflation and a devalued local unit have wreaked havoc for most workers, whose incomes have now significantly lost value.
Government workers are now receiving salaries as low as: Teacher ZWL3 200 (US$45), Zimbabwe Republic police ZWL$3 500 (US$50), State Registered Nurses ZWL3 000 (US$43), Student Teachers ZWL150 (US$2), High Court Judges ZWL15 000 (US$$214), Zimbabwe National Army ZWL $3 600 (US$ 51) and Prosecutors ZWL$5 000 (US$72).
The salaries above represent the stated minimum salaries amount per grade mentioned.
Many tuckshops and supermarkets are now reluctant to accept mobile money, preferring instead cash, in particular United States dollars.
In a snap survey conducted by Zim Morning Post in Harare today (Tuesday), retailers such as TM supermarkets, OK Bazaars and Food World were selling their products at slightly lower prices than in other shops.
Prices of basic goods and services have continued to skyrocket, while certain goods are now priced exclusively in US dollars by some retailers, amid stagnation of incomes and volatile parallel market exchange rates.
In TM supermarkets, white sugar is selling at ZWL139, which is equivalent US$2.10.
Tuckshops are charging US$2.40 or US$2.50 for the same product.
A 10-kilogramme packet of mealie meal now costs ZWL260 (US3.20) in many retail outlets whereas in tuck-lshops it is being sold at US$5.
Recently, Public Service Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavhima said government was committed to reviewing the salaries of civil servants.