The government last year quietly paid Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives their annual bonuses, yet postponed, several times, paying the salaries of civil servants, only releasing the payments yesterday, a development that is likely to spark a rebuke from other public sector workers.

While most civil servants were penniless during the festive season, members of the CIO received their December salaries on December 21 and their bonuses 10 days later, insiders have revealed.

“Members of the CIO got their salaries and bonuses on December 31. In fact, salaries were paid on December 21 and bonuses followed,” NewsDay was told.

“The CIO are treated differently because their finances and salaries are not handled by the Civil Service Commission, but the President’s Office and no one, other than the director-general of the President’s Office, controls the budget.”

State Security minister Kembo Mohadi declined to comment on the matter saying: “That is an operational issue that I cannot discuss with you.”

Civil servants’ associations have already demanded that the government give them a specific date for the payment of their bonuses, as Mugabe promised, and revelations that CIO members had received their 13th cheque are likely to embolden the government workers. Source: newsday

photo-CIO Chief, Happyson Bonyongwe, Army Chief Constantine Chiwenga and President Robert Mugabe