Zimbabwe reaches a pay deal with civil servants

The Zimbabwean government and civil servants have agreed on a pay rise deal, according to the state newspaper, the Herald.

The lowest-paid worker will now be paid 2,500 Zimbabwean dollars ($146; £112) per month, up from 1,033 Zimbabwean dollars, while the highest paid will get 4,631 Zimbabwean dollars.

The public workers union, Apex Council, said the increment was "a mere 31 per cent of what they had asked for" and would continue pushing for more.

The agreement comes after months of strikes that have severely affected public services.

The pay rise will be backdated to 1 January.

There will also be a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) based on the total package, also to be paid starting February and backdated to January.

Soaring inflation has eroded salaries in Zimbabwe which is grappling with its worst economic crisis in a decade.

The country has had frequent shortages of foreign currency, food, fuel, electricity and medicine.

Earlier this month, the Apex Council rejected a government offer to double pay for employees on grounds that it was too little.