HARARE- Ministers on Wednesday backtracked on plans to further decongest government offices from 40 percent to 10 percent, as officials admitted it would be “difficult to provide any service with such a low number” of workers.
The staffing level at government offices will be maintained at 25 percent.
In a Monday circular, Public Service Commission (PSC) permanent secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe had directed all line ministries, departments and agencies with the exception of the ministry of health and other designated essential services to leave just 10 percent staff in offices, reduced from 40 percent, to curb Covid-19 infections.
Two days later, government spokesperson Ndabaningi Nick Mangwana announced that efforts to reduce the workforce to 10 percent was not sustainable.
“Yes, there was a suggestion to reduce the number of civil servants coming to work to 10 percent, but Cabinet noted that it was difficult to provide any service with such a low number. The final resolution is that public service is operating with 25 percent of the staff and not 10 percent,” said Mangwana.
On Tuesday, the government announced a surge in weekly cases from 8,013 during the week ending July 13, to 21,346 in the week ending July 20.
The surge in cases in the country was attributed to “general complacency in adhering to set protocols.”
Mangwana on Tuesday noted that “all civil servants should be vaccinated and those not vaccinated can no longer claim the Covid-19 insurance money which is given to those that test positive.”
