While some few civil servants such as Teachers, officers under military, police and the intelligence have received their salaries. February salaries for majority of civil servants have still not been paid, Ministry of Finance sources have revealed.

Officers employed under the Ministry of Agriculture, Doctors and other health workers have still not received their February salaries, which is said to be in one of the longest delays salary delays to hit the civil service in recent times.

Sources at the Ministry of Finance say government has faced some difficulties in managing its Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) system.

Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union President Davy Chiyobe has stated that continued delays in paying salaries to civil servants is breeding ground for corruption.

“The situation is becoming desperate now. Our members are in the dark about what is happening to their salaries. The date has moved from 23rd/ 24th of the month to unknown dates. Government must clearly communicate if it is having any challenges in paying our members,” Mr Chiyobe said.

“Delays in paying salaries offers an incentive to our members to engage in corruption and if the situation does not change, we will see a lot of corruption cases involving government workers,” he said.