Some 42,483 pensioners from across the country were shocked when they went to the bank last week, only to learn that NSSA had not deposited anything. Many were looking for money to pay fees ahead of the new term.
Some said they were told it would take three months for payments to resume after completing the Life Certificate Forms. “NSSA should have informed us about the need to acquire Life Certificates before freezing payments,” said a pensioner, who only chose to be identified as Joshua from Zvishavane, at NSSA headquarters last week.
“Every pensioner at least owns a mobile phone and if NSSA was sensitive about our plight, it would have texted messages to that effect since it has the database,” he added.
Hundreds of affected pensioners who refused to be identified for fear of victimisation could be seen completing the forms at NSSA head office. They said they had not received any communication on the matter. Some said they could not afford busfare back home as they had failed to access their $30 monthly payments.
The Pensioners Union Trust of Zimbabwe blamed NSSA for failing to communicate with pensioners in time. “NSSA seems to be obsessed with the commercialisation of the institution’s properties at the expense of pensioners. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare should share the blame as it has abandoned its mandate of monitoring social protection,” said PUTZ president Wisdom Tawanda Zhanje.
PUTZ and disgruntled pensioners failed to seek an audience with NSSA general manager, James Matiza, whose secretary said he was out of office on business.
The union’s Communications and Liaison Officer, Alec Bamu, said NSSA was doing pensioners a disservice at a time they needed money most for school children’s needs. “This could confirm people’s fears that NSSA is diverting membership contributions to some other purposes not in the interest of pensioners. To make matters worse those who completed the Life Certificate forms in their districts had to come to the head office as no action had been taken,” he said.
NSSA general manager, James Matiza, said the authority froze the accounts to avoid the fund from being exploited by undeserving people. “Had we not effected the freeze, some people would have benefited from money due to pensioners who had passed away,” he said.
The Director for Contributions and Compliance, Barnabas Matongera, said adverts in the press, radio and mobile phones had been placed asking pensioners to submit the certificates between October and December 2013. More than 75 percent had complied.
“Reinstatement is immediate once a completed Life Certificate is received and captured. Payment will be done during the next payroll if certificate is received after payroll cut-off date,” he said.
NSSA has 70 percent of its investments in the equities market, according to Matiza, and has interests in 64 of the 69 companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, holding 10 percent on 12 counters.
Post published in: News