Nssa moves to remove ghost beneficiaries

THE National Social Security Authority (Nssa) will be conducting a life certificate renewal exercise for its beneficiaries from April 2 to June 28, to eliminate the incidence of ghost beneficiaries.

Issuance of life certificates is an international best practice that safeguards pension funds from paying out to beneficiaries who no longer exist. It is conducted annually.

Nssa deputy director marketing and PR, Tendai Mutseyekwa, said the life certificate renewal exercise will be carried out across Nssa’s six regions encompassing Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo and Chinhoyi, including their respective satellite offices.

“This exercise will affect all Nssa beneficiaries and is carried out for the fund's good as ghost beneficiaries prejudice bona fide recipients by making the cake smaller,” he said.

“For this exercise, pensioners must physically visit any Nssa office with original and photocopies of their national identity card or valid passport. Driver’s licences will not be accepted as proof of identity.

“Those, who are bedridden and grossly disabled, will be visited by Nssa officers in their respective homes. They should submit to the nearest Nssa office their contact addresses and mobile numbers to facilitate visits by our officers,” Mutseyekwa said.

Nssa officers will also visit selected POSB, National Building Society, and Zimpost during pensioner paydays.

Several local business centres and growth points will be visited by Nssa on dates to be advised.

“Those in the diaspora can download the Diaspora Life Certificate on the Nssa website and should email the completed life certificate to Nssalifecertificates@ nssa.org.zw. Failure to renew a life certificate by 28 June 2024 will result in the suspension of benefit payout,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nssa’s acting general manager, Charles Shava, says the statutory pension fund is determined to improve the welfare of pensioners and is targeting a minimum payout equivalent to US$60, once various interventions they are instituting start bearing fruit.

“We have approximately 240 000 pensioners under Nssa and they are currently getting between US$40 and US$50 per month. We pay in Zimbabwe dollars and alternate with United States dollars, depending on our cashflows,” Shava said.

However, some insurance industry experts said without corresponding increases in incomes, it would be difficult for Nssa to make payments of US$60 without facing financial difficulties.

“As it stands it is not possible for Nssa to pay US$60 to pensioners because of