Zimbabwe's economy has been plunged into further turmoil with the announcement that the government plans to fire up to 25,000 civil servants.
Speaking on Friday, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said civil servant's salaries were accounting for over 98% of the annual budget.
The government has also built up a $623m budget deficit for the first six months of 2016 and it is projected to widen to $1bn by the end of the year.
Drip drip... | Struggling #Zimbabwe plans to cut 25,000 government jobs https://t.co/t9bTJromw0
— Alexander Noyes (@alexhnoyes) September 10, 2016
The news comes as anti-government protests have been met with police brutality as the opposition tries to oust incumbent president Robert Mugabe, after nearly three decades in power.
Cash shortages in the country have also fueled the flames of protest as the economy stalls in a country that was once considered the breadbasket of Africa.