Harare, (New Ziana) -The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Pensioners Advocacy Zimbabwe has petitioned Parliament to assist them in pushing for an upward review of their monthly pay-outs which they say are inadequate.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare this week, the pensioners said the current monthly pay-outs have impoverished them.
“We have no capacity to take care of our personal lives, let alone dependents, because of the low pension payouts that we are getting from NSSA. The meager pension payouts have created pronounced suffering to pensioners and have denied pensioners the right to life,” said Tawanda Shumba who spoke on behalf of the advocates.
Shumba said some pensioners were even failing to go to banks to collect their meager payouts.
“The paltry pension payouts have denied the pensioners from getting decent accommodation, among other things. Our recommendations are that NSSA pays pensioners a monthly pension that relates to the cost of living in Zimbabwe, taking into consideration the current family breadbasket levels.
Shumba said NSSA should consider paying them United States-denominated payouts.
“So it is the pensioner’s plea with Parliament to investigate, recommend and rectify the unpleasant situation being faced by pensioners and make sure that all pensioners earn a pension above the poverty datum line or the family bread basket. “Being on pension should not continue being a death sentence to former workers who made huge contributions to the growth of the nation during their working years,” said Shumba.
Speaking before the same committee, Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare permanent secretary Simon Masanga said NSSA cannot afford to pay more than what it is already paying.
“At one time, NSSA was paying a minimum pension equivalent to USD 100, but due to changes in the environment, we saw that figure falling to around US$30 to $40 a month to the current figure for the equivalent of slightly above maybe USD 50 a month, and our wish is to continue improving on the pension payout as both our economic environment and the money that we collect from those that are contributing continue to improve,” he said.
He however said with the current pension pay-out rates, NSSA remained above what the other competitors are giving their pensioners. “NSSA is the highest paying.
Yes, I agree, the amounts that have been paid may not be adequate, but we are doing all that we can as NSSA to make sure these pensions continue to improve.
“We have many occupational pension funds. Some have folded. I used to be a board member of a certain government entity, and the pension fund is now nowhere to be seen. We are happy to say that NSSA is still swimming, and the situation continues to improve.”
NSSA acting general manager Dr Charles Shava said at the moment, NSSA cannot afford an upward review of pensions.
“We do not want to just pay $100 to pensioners this month, and then next month the scheme will collapse. So we ensure that whatever we pay to our pensioners is something that is sustainable and is going to see the scheme into eternity.
New Ziana
