Clive Thabo Dube
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
The indigenous citizenry in Zimbabwe especially the old age continue to suffer syndromes of poverty and neglect amid the National Social Security Authority’s (NSSA) lack of engagement with pensioners, trusts and advocacy groups, this publication has established.
For years, pensioners in Zimbabwe have been receiving monthly benefits ranging between US$10- US$100, amounts that fail to meet basic needs such as healthcare, housing, food and transportation to go collect the meagre allowances amongst others, leaving the elderly embroiled in abject poverty as they rely on donations from neighbors and well wishers as well as engage in informal street vending just to make ends meet.
The plight of pensioners in Zimbabwe is a heart wrenching tale of struggle and hardship.
NSSA’s limited engagement with pensioners as well as failer to provide pivotal information has exacerbated the challenges faced by the elderly. This has led to the formation of The Association of National Social Security Retirees Trust (ANSSRT) in 2017.
Spearheaded by retired Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Deputy Secretary General, Senator Gideon Shoko, the association is on a quest to bridge the gap between pensioners and NSSA.
On a letter dated, 29 August 2025, ANSSRT bemoaned lack of engagement by the NSSA despite being a registered trustee to represent NSSA pensioners.
“We write to enquire from your office why you have not been involving our organization in issues that affect pensioners despite the fact we have given your office our contact and registration details. We have been patiently waiting since 2021 when we introduced ourselves to you. We believed that we will be called to meetings to discuss issues affecting NSSA pensioners and nothing has been forthcoming although we have read through the press and other media that there are issues you are tackling for pensioners without any consultations with ourselves.” Reads part of the letter addressed to the NSSA General Manager Dr. C. Shava.
Former MDC- T Senator further requested that the NSSA Board of Trustees pays a half yearly bonus of pensioners like they did in 2024 and increase monthly amounts.
In response, the NSSA General Manager said the government entity does not necessarily have to consult ANSSRT nor the pensioners when tackling issues regarding their wellfare.
“We acknowledge that we have been tackling issues pertaining to pensioners welfare without consulting your association. We wish to take this opportunity to advice that we are not necessarily required to consult pensioners when dealing with issues pertaining to their wellbeing because it is our mandate to do so in terms of the statutes”. Reads Dr. Shava’s letter.
Pensions, in a country grappling with a failing economy like Zimbabwe are supposed to be a social safety net. But the lack of engagement by NSSA with relevant stakeholders and failer to ameliorate the livelihood of pensioners worsens the already precarious situation, making the betterment of pensioners in Zimbabwe elusive.
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