Civil Registry Staff Denied USD 1.1 Million in Out...

Civil Registry Staff Denied USD 1.1 Million in Outstanding Allowances

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

A fresh labour dispute has erupted in the Civil Registry Department after Treasury blocked the release of US$1.1 million meant to clear outstanding allowances for workers who participated in the 2023 Mop-Up Mobile Registration exercise.

According to an internal memo dated 11 July 2025, the Ministry of Finance had initially set aside USD 3.7 million for the exercise, but only USD 2.6 million was disbursed. Treasury has since directed that the remaining USD 1.1 million cannot be released, citing strict budgetary controls.

The decision leaves staff from two provinces unpaid nearly two years after completing the voter-linked registration drive. Workers only received part of their allowances in May 2025, following sustained pressure.

The Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats, led by Linda Tsungirirai Masarira, have condemned the development as “a grave labour injustice,” accusing the Civil Registry, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affairs of exploiting underpaid civil servants.

“This is a national scandal. These workers only received part of their allowances almost two years later, and even then, only after sustained advocacy. Yet documents from the Civil Registry reveal that USD 1.1 million is available,” Masarira said.

LEAD argued that the non-payment violates Section 65 of the Constitution, the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], and International Labour Organization conventions on fair remuneration. The party also accused the authorities of double standards, noting that senior officials continue to receive full salaries and benefits while junior staff remain neglected.

LEAD has demanded the immediate release of the allowances, the retirement of Registrar-General Henry Machiri, and accountability from Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe for what it called “shameless exploitation” of frontline workers.

The Mop-Up Mobile Registration exercise, conducted ahead of the 2023 general elections, was aimed at ensuring citizens could access national identity documents to enable voter participation.