Online Reporter
When Sekuru Mudzamiri retired at 65, he moved to his rural home, content with what he thought was the end of his working life.
For the last 20 years before retirement, he had worked as a cook at a popular hotel in Harare.
Before that, his career had taken him through several other employers: he had been a cook at a mining company, a general hand at a local authority, a painter at a construction company, and a merchandiser at a clothing factory.
All these employers had pension schemes to which he had religiously contributed throughout his service, though he did not fully understand the entitlements.
Yet, when he retired from the hotel, his send-off was a scotch cart, part of the firm’s standard procedure for any retiree who had served at least 10 years. Grateful but unaware of his broader entitlements, he assumed this was the full reward for his decades of
service.
With that, he moved to his rural home, not knowing that it was time to reap the benefits of years of pension contributions from all the pension schemes he had been contributing to.
This story is fictional, created to illustrate a common challenge faced by pensioners, but the lessons it conveys are very real.
It was at a funeral that Sekuru Mudzamiri’s life took an unexpected yet beautiful turn.
While speaking with his niece, Martha Tigo, he quietly asked her for some money to buy a bucket of mealie meal for home. After all, the funeral had been a blessing in disguise, as it meant he could finally have a proper meal after going three days without one, as there was nothing at home.
Martha, now more financially aware after facing her own family’s hardships, gently asked if he had ever claimed pension benefits from his former employers. She explained that, given his long history with reputable companies that offered pension schemes, there
was a strong likelihood he had unclaimed benefits waiting for him.
Intrigued and encouraged, Sekuru Mudzamiri travelled back to the city two days later.
He visited each of his previous employers to check if he had any pension benefits due. In every case, he was referred to the respective administrators that managed the schemes. To his surprise, all the pension funds confirmed they had benefits due to him. With
guidance from the administrators, he completed the necessary forms, and before long, he received his lump sum benefits, and later on his monthly pension benefits.
Sekuru Mudzamiri’s experience is not unique. Thousands of Zimbabweans, including retired employees, widows and widowers, and children of deceased members, are unknowingly leaving behind money that is rightfully theirs. Some do not know they are entitled
to pension benefits, while others are ignorant of how to claim the benefits.
As at June 30, 2025, private occupational pension schemes in Zimbabwe were holding unclaimed benefits worth the equivalent of about US$15 million, due to roughly 100 000 members.
If you have contributed to a private occupational pension fund at any stage of your working life but did not receive the retirement benefits, you are most likely among the 100 000 with unclaimed benefits.
Unclaimed benefits remain in the pension fund for five years, after becoming due.
If not claimed within that period, they are transferred to the Guardian Fund. The Guardian Fund holds the money for 30 years, awaiting rightful claims.
If no claim is made during that period, the funds are finally transferred to the Consolidated Revenue Fund for use by the State.
The Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) periodically publishes lists of unclaimed benefits in newspapers and on its website.
Checking these lists could reveal entitlements you were unaware of.
Families play a vital role, especially in claiming death benefits. If a family member was formally employed or contributed to a pension plan, it is essential to:
Search through their employment records
Check for payslips indicating pension deductions
Contact former employers or unions
Check IPEC’s unclaimed benefits search engine on the website:
www.ipec.co.zw or on WhatsApp +263787821846, type pension or penjeni or pentsheni and follow the prompts.
Employers must inform employees of their pension rights and benefits. Upon retirement or resignation, they should ensure exit documentation is complete and accurate.
Fund administrators must maintain accurate records, issue benefit statements and process claims promptly.
All members contributing to pension schemes have the right to get copies of the rules of their funds, which stipulate when the pension benefits become due and how they are claimed.
Sekuru Mudzamiri’s story is a reminder that pension benefits are not lost; they are waiting to be claimed. If you suspect you or a loved one has a claim, do not wait. Act now.
About IPEC
IPEC is a statutory body established in terms of the Insurance and Pensions Commission Act [Chapter 24:21] to regulate the insurance and pensions industry for the protection of policyholders and pension scheme members.
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