Sharon Chigeza
MUTARE – The government has been urged to accelerate pension reforms and enhance social protection for civil servants, emphasizing that safeguarding the dignity and security of retirees is not only a “moral obligation” but also a cornerstone of Vision 2030.
Addressing delegates through Vice President Kembo Mohadi at the opening of the 3rd Public Service Commission Retirement Conference in Mutare on Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa stressed that retirement planning should no longer be an afterthought but must become a key national development priority.
The three-day conference is running under the theme, ‘Bridging the Gaps: Sustainable Retirement Solutions for Public Sector Workers’.
The event, held at the Mutare Polytechnic Sports Pavilion, also saw VP Mohadi commission 55 buses acquired by the Public Service Commission to ease transport challenges for government workers across the country.
Addressing more than 1,000 delegates, including public servants, Cabinet ministers, and visiting Public Service Commission chairpersons from SADC, President Mnangagwa said the welfare of those who have served the nation must be protected.
“A nation that truly values its workers must, with equal resolve, value their retirement. The security and dignity of our retirees are therefore not matters of convenience, but of principle,” the President said.
He noted that across Zimbabwe, thousands of teachers, nurses, security personnel, and administrators have “invested not only their skills and time, but also their very spirit into a shared national ethos—one anchored in duty, sacrifice, and patriotism.”
Linking the agenda to Vision 2030, the President said a prosperous upper-middle-income society “cannot be realized if those who have contributed to national development retire into uncertainty and vulnerability.”
He cited economic headwinds, including sanctions, as a lesson in the need for resilience and self-reliance. “Nyika inotongwa nevene vayo / ilizwe liyabuswa ngabanikazi balo,” he said, stressing that Zimbabwe must safeguard the value of retirement savings and build pension systems that withstand shocks.
The President highlighted progress in shifting from a pay-as-you-go model to a funded hybrid framework through the operationalization of the Public Service Pension Fund. He said early investment performance was encouraging and gave confidence that future pensioners would enjoy better outcomes.
To entrench the reforms, the government is advancing the State Service Pensions Bill to modernize administration, improve governance, and strengthen accountability.
“Government is equally committed to strengthening regulation, oversight, and transparency across the pensions and insurance sectors in order to safeguard contributors and maintain confidence in retirement institutions,” he said.
He urged civil servants to embrace early planning, regular savings, strategic investments, skill development, health preservation, and asset acquisition. He also called on institutions to support responsible entrepreneurship among public servants to create alternative income streams.
President Mnangagwa further noted that pension funds must play a role in national development through strategic investments in infrastructure, energy, and other productive sectors.
He welcomed SADC delegates, saying retirement security is a shared responsibility and that collaboration through the SADC Public Service Commissions Forum would help build more resilient systems.
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Edgar Moyo told the conference that sustainable retirement outcomes must be anchored in coherent, responsive, and inclusive policies that align state expectations with worker aspirations.
“It is through such policy clarity and consistency that we cultivate a harmonious public service environment, one in which employees remain motivated and assured that their long-term welfare is safeguarded,” he said.
Minister Moyo said the conference in Mutare was intentional to ensure “no one and no place is left behind” in efforts to promote retirement preparedness. Over the next two days, delegates will examine challenges and generate recommendations to strengthen preparedness, promote financial literacy, enhance stakeholder cooperation, and contribute to resilient retirement systems.
The minister commended the PSC for institutionalising retirement planning and creating dialogue platforms among policymakers, practitioners, and development partners.
“Retirement should never signify uncertainty or vulnerability. Rather, it should mark the beginning of a new chapter characterized by fulfillment, independence, and continued contribution to national development,” he said.
In a boost to staff welfare, VP Mohadi commissioned 55 buses procured by the PSC. The government said the buses will be deployed to various ministries and departments to improve staff movement and service delivery.
The handover was received with applause by delegates who have in past conferences raised transport, housing, and low salaries as barriers to saving for retirement.
PSC Chairman Dr. Vincent Hungwe said that since the inaugural conference in 2024, retirement preparedness has been increasingly integrated into human capital development. The Commission has also established a stand-alone department to manage retirement planning.
The conference drew delegations from SADC Public Service Commissions. President Mnangagwa said their presence affirmed “our enduring commitment to work together in strengthening public institutions that protect, empower, and honour those who dedicate their lives in service to our nations.”
The conference runs until Friday and is expected to produce actionable policy recommendations for Cabinet consideration.
