Empowering pensioners

MANY people reach their pensionable stage quite unprepared for it, a development
that can either traumatise or lead to depression, as one suddenly wakes up to no
daily challenges.
Often in some cases this can lead to a sense of being unwanted, triggering a host of
mental conditions.
The recent launch of a scheme by the National Social Security Authority (NSSA)
empowering pensioners is a most welcome development because for most
pensioners this can represent a new beginning, something to look forward and a
promise that there is life after retirement.
Earlier this year, NSSA announced a US$2million goat rearing project, which seeks
to ensure that pensioners get value during their retirement.
The scheme is a revolving fund towards eradicating poverty among pensioners and
other beneficiaries of NSSA.
The scheme is a revolving loan facility for NSSA pensioners to finance projects for
self-sustenance, such as the knowledge transfer model goat rearing schemes for
pensioners.
Under the scheme, more than 10 000 goats will be reared with pensioners
participating as out growers for both the local and export market, with a capacity for
foreign currency generation.
Pensioners from Bindura and Gwanda are among the project participants, while
villagers or farmers in areas surrounding the projects, will be enlisted as out growers.
The rationale guiding NSSA’s launch of this goat rearing project is that there is
demand for goat meat in the Asian and Middle East markets that have a combined
demand that runs into millions of goats a week, meaning there are prospects for
Zimbabwean goat producers to establish themselves as a reliable and steady
supplier of goat meat to that market.
A fortnight ago, NSSA officials said over the past three years the authority has been
extending concessionary loans to at least 8000 pensioners to promote and enhance
economic activities by pensioners.
Basing on the initial impacts of the scheme, NSSA is considering beefing up the fund
to $2billion. The goat rearing project comes in the wake of realisation that since the
advent of the Covid-19, pensioners have been among the worst affected by the
effects of the pandemic.
The project will enhance the lives of pensioners as it will complement the monthly
allowances pensioners receive from NSSA.

But this is just the beginning. Success of the project and its roll out nationwide will
raise the question of whether there are no other projects that NSSA pensioners can
venture into with similar degrees of success. Poultry, rabbitry and horticulture are
among immediate areas of possibilities.
In the process this initiative is creating a host of employment opportunities for job
seekers, because the slaughter, dressing and packaging and export or meeting local
demand will require employment of more people.
Retirement will never be the same again, but more importantly senior citizens will be
able to live a comfortable and active life.
The scheme cannot go wrong if NSSA is working with livestock experts and
agronomists in driving success of the scheme.