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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
Pensioners who receive their money through CABS have expressed disappointment over delays by the bank to dispense cash, which often condemns them to spending most of their time in queues.
The pensioners, most of who live in the rural areas, grouped and visited the office of the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa on Wednesday seeking Government’s intervention in the matter.
In separate interviews with The Herald, the pensioners appealed to banks to prioritise them, as they travel long distances to make cash withdrawals.
Most pensioners receive an average of $150 every month.
“We got paid on February 28 and since then, we have only been able to withdraw $45,” said the group’s representative, Mr Peter Saungweme.
“In my case, I am a farmer. There are people I have to pay back home and I cannot use EcoCash or transfers. All these people you see here come from all over Manicaland. Some come from as far as Nyanga, Chipinge and Chimanimani.
“They sleep on pavements waiting for the bank to give them their money, only to be told that there is no money.
“We want this issue to be resolved once and for all. CABS management has been giving us assurances that we should come on certain days, but when we get here, there is nothing.
“If they don’t give us money, where will we sleep? How do we even go back home without money for transport? We are asking Government to help us. We talked to the director in the minister’s office and he promised that they would address the issue.”
Another pensioner, Mrs Caroline Nalushefu, said pensioners could not embrace plastic money because of the small amounts of money they received in their accounts.
“If we go to the supermarkets, sometimes they tell us that there is no cash-back and EcoCash agents do not have cash,” she said.
“Those that do charge us 15 percent on every transaction. We now don’t know what to do. How do we survive? Our children are being chased away from school for non-payment of fees and I have nothing to even feed these children.
“Most of these pensioners are now old and they need medication for ailments such as BP and diabetes, which come as we grow older. Should we die because we are old?”
The depositors accused CABS of prioritising Gold Class clients over the ones in Blue Class, where the majority of CABS customers belong.
They also accused a CABS agent, who operates in the CBD of forcing depositors to buy goods worth $25 for them to get cashback of about $40.
“We are now being forced to buy things we do not need,” said Mr Clive Njenjera.
“This agent sells safety shoes, work-suits and cellphones, but I do not need all these.
“How can l buy safety shoes every month to get some cash? After all, that money will not cover all my needs; I will still need some more.”
Following the meetings by CABS management and the minister’s office, the pensioners were able to make withdrawals and were promised more cash today.
No comment could be obtained from CABS.
Online Reporter