By Own Correspondent

For months, Zimbabwe’s council workers have ensured the water keeps running, streets stay clean, and clinics remain open. Yet, when their shifts end, they confront a troubling reality: wages have not arrived for months.

A circular from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, dated 20 October 2026, has exposed the depth of this crisis, confirming that some local authorities have built up significant salary arrears—"spanning several months."

To those on the ground—refuse collectors, nurses, clerks, engineers—the government's acknowledgement isn’t just a bureaucratic update. It’s about daily survival.

In a strong directive sent to all Town Clerks and Chief Executive Officers, Permanent Secretary Eng. Tafadzwa Muguti made no attempt to soften the blow.

“The Ministry has noted with serious concern that some councils have accumulated salary arrears spanning several months, together with outstanding statutory obligations,” the circular announced.

“This situation is unacceptable, as it adversely affects the welfare and livelihoods of employees, undermines staff morale, compromises productivity, and ultimately impairs the capacity of Local Authorities to deliver essential services to residents.”

This official statement merely confirms what many residents have noticed as municipal services decline. When councils miss wage payments, even the most basic urban services start to crumble—garbage piles up, water pumps break down, and clinics struggle to operate with understaffed, unpaid workers.

The Struggle Behind the Scenes

The Ministry’s figures mask the true hardship felt by thousands of Zimbabwean families. A council worker who hasn’t received their pay for three months can’t cover rent, school fees, or basic groceries.

“They tell us to be patient, but our landlords are not patient,”

shared one Harare City Council employee, who wished to remain anonymous.

“We are forced to find side jobs just to put food on the table, but even then, we have to show up for work every day. It is exhausting.”

The psychological strain is immense. While the circular mentions an erosion of staff morale, for many workers, it feels more like abandonment by the very institutions they serve.

The problem goes beyond salary delays. The Ministry also highlighted “outstanding statutory obligations.” In practice, this means councils are not only behind on wages but have also failed to pay pension contributions, NSSA, and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) dues.

This double setback hurts employees now and puts their future pensions and essential statutory benefits at risk—collateral damage from the councils’ financial troubles.

Now, government officials insist councils must prioritize paying salaries and statutory dues. But that demand leads to the obvious question: where will the money come from?

Councils have been told to “strengthen revenue collection” and “control expenditure.” However, in a struggling economy where residents find it tough to pay their own bills, boosting revenue is a constant challenge.

For now, council workers remain trapped—expected to keep cities functioning while their own well-being hangs in the balance.

“We are the ones keeping the city running. But who is going to keep us running?”one employee said.