Pensioners call for amendment of Nssa Act

THE Zimbabwe National Pensioners Forum Trust has called for the amendment of the National Social Security (Nssa) Act for it to accommodate and clearly state various components of pensioners and their welfare.

Speaking on the sidelines of a 2023 National budget consultation meeting in Bulawayo on Thursday, chairman of the Zimbabwe National Pensioners Forum Trust Mr Winos Dube said the Nssa Act was silent on the pensioners but only spoke about the employeremployee relations.

“Our plea as pensioners is that the Nssa Act must be amended. It is in the realisation that in its formulation, it doesn’t talk about a person as a pensioner but it talks about the employee-employer relations. However, when one gets retired, it is absolutely silent in that regard. We really need to understand about the welfare of the pensioners which should be clarified and specified in the Act. It needs to be specific as to what pensioners are supposed to get at the end of the day,” said Mr Dube

The Nssa Act commenced on 30 March 1990 and seeks to provide for the establishment of social security schemes for the provision of benefits for employees. It also saw the establishment of the National Social Security Authority and provided its function, constitution and functions of the National Social Security Board; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Mr Dube said pensioners must also be included in the Nssa Board as they feel they are the major stakeholder of the entity.

“Again we are saying, when constituting the Nssa Board, it should have pensioners because we have a feeling that we are the real owners of this institution,” said Mr Dube.

Meanwhile, pensioners have called upon the 2023 national budget to cushion Nssa in order for it to provide for its beneficiaries.