Chronicle Editor
Lumbidzani Dima, Chronicle Reporter
LIFE’s greatest lessons are learnt through pain, according to some widows who live in Matshobana suburb.
The women say their husbands used to work for the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
They said they get a monthly payout of ZW$1 200 as pension from the NRZ Pension Fund.
Mrs Margarete Mthombeni (73) whose husband died in 1996 said she has arthritis which needs medication but she cannot afford it.
“The pension money we get from NRZ is too little as it cannot buy anything,” said Mrs Mthombeni.
Mrs Donnie Sithole (71) said due to advanced age, many of them are now vulnerable to diseases.
“We now need to constantly visit doctors and buy medicines which are in most cases very expensive. I have a heart condition and the little money I get as pension cannot buy the required medicines,” she said.
Mrs Simangaliso Sithole (62) said Government must intervene and order the NRZ Pension Fund to increase the pension payouts.
“We need to pay bills, we need to feed children and grandchildren, we need to buy medicines. All we need are basics which at the moment we cannot afford. We wish Government could do something so that we get at least a minimum of US$50. The money from NRZ Pension Fund added to that from National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is still very little,” she said.
Mrs Khiphile Khoza (77) said it has become the norm for most families whose income is from the pension fund to have just one meal a day. She said at times her family is forced to sleep on empty stomachs.
“We are appealing to Government or non-Governmental organisations to assist us start income-generating projects,” she said.
Online Reporter