Pensioners who spoke to The Zimbabwean on condition of anonymity complained that during the period 2007-2009, they were offered “worthless Zimbabwean dollars” as retirement packages.
“The pensioners who retired during the hyperinflation period were awarded Zimbabwean dollars which were not accessible from the bank. Some who retired between the periods 2007 to 2009 were issued with contributory pension book files showing zero dollars after contributing to the pension fund for 25 years or more,” said one pensioner.
The source said that on the issue of monthly remunerations, all pensioners were bundled into one pay scale regardless of their grade during service at the NRZ.
This saw all pensioners earning a monthly allowance of $20.
“This brought an outcry from all the NRZ pensioners in Zimbabwe. The situation forced the fund to introduce the unbundling exercise by slotting every pensioner into his or her former grade. The unbundling was formalised in 2010 by awarding a mere 27 percent of an unknown figure to all pensioners,” said the source.
“After almost two years, the pensioners got another 17 percent in July 2012. So this means that the NRZ Pension Fund still owes pensioners 56 percent of their monthly allowances. We are saying we want our money in full not these percentages we are receiving,” said the source.
Another pensioner revealed to The Zimbabwean that widows of former NRZ employees were getting a paltry $16 a month instead of the stipulated $150.
The source said widows were “being taken advantage of because some of them lack knowledge of the process”.
The source added that the pension fund had been backtracking on its responsibility to pay the $200 funeral grant to the families of deceased NRZ employees. He said that the $200 funeral grant was introduced in late 2011.
“Most NRZ pensioners served for more than 25 years and their contributions enabled the NRZ pension fund to become one of the richest in the country by acquiring properties in Zimbabwe from which the fund is generating a lot of money,” said the source.
According to papers shown to The Zimbabwean, the NRZ has 71 properties across Zimbabwe, which are being rented out to tenants.
Some of the notable properties include Trust Towers (Harare), Holiday Inn (Bulawayo), CABS properties, Victoria Falls Hotel, Karigamombe Building (Harare), Beverly Court (Harare) and Bulawayo Centre.
Efforts to get a comment from the NRZ Pension Fund Deputy Manager, Patience Dhliwayo, were in vain as she said she did not have authority to speak to the press.
In September last year, workers representatives from the NRZ appealed to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to look into the unfair labour practices at the parastatal.
Last year in October, NRZ spokesperson, Fanuel Masikati, admitted they had not been able to pay workers for a period of five months. The NRZ requires $400 million to revive its operations.
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After numerous and frustratin efforts I would like to know in what bank account my Widows Pension has been paid into with he advent of hese fundsw now being allowed to leave the cojuntry and the pENSION ALLOWED TO BE PAID INTO THE R4ESPECTIVE ACCOUNTS. 2, wHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO RECUPERATE AND REPAY MONIES TRAKEN FROM THE OLD MUTUAL PENSION FUND AFTER BEING PAID INTO THE OLD MUTUAL ACCOUNT BY DEBIT ORDER ON A MONTHLY BASIS. IE.COMPENSATION. THE PAYING BACK OF THESE FUNDS AT THE RATE OF VALUE AT TIME OF PERLOINING. URGENT PLEASE. HAZEL VAN DER RIET WIDOW. NOW PENNILESS AS WELL AS HOMELESS