Zimbabwe Extends Retirement Age for Civil Servants
HARARE – The Zimbabwean government has announced an extension to the retirement age for civil servants and members of the uniformed forces, citing the need to adapt to rising life expectancy and retain skilled personnel.
Mnangagwa Reviews Civil Servants Retirement Age To 65
Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi made the announcement in Harare, describing the changes as a necessary alignment with global trends to ensure efficiency in public service delivery.
The reforms will see civil servants now retiring at 70 instead of 65, while uniformed personnel will also have the option to extend their service under new guidelines.
Ziyambi highlighted Zimbabwe’s increasing life expectancy, which now averages 80 years, as a key factor behind the decision.
He argued that experienced professionals are essential for maintaining productivity and addressing demographic and economic shifts.
Zimbabwe Extends Retirement Age for Civil Servants
“Why waste productivity and experience? We must harness these resources to ensure efficiency across all sectors,” he said.
The government addressed concerns about the potential impact on job opportunities for younger workers.
Ziyambi assured that the labour market would adjust over time, with older employees eventually retiring, thus creating opportunities for new entrants.
He emphasised that the transition was designed to balance generational workforce needs while safeguarding institutional knowledge and expertise.
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This is not the first time that retirement age has been extended by the Mnangagwa administration.
In 2020, the Zimbabwean government extended the retirement age for civil servants to 65 years.
