Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has said the Government’s GovPay system is being developed to link salary and pension administration, with electronic payslips now fully completed as part of efforts to improve access to employment-related information.
PSC Manager Payroll Management, Mrs Mildred Mutandaro said this in Chipinge this afternoon during an engagement meeting with civil servants held ahead of the 2026 Retirement Conference, which will be held in Mutare from Wednesday to Friday.
Mrs Mutandaro said GovPay had two key outputs, namely e-payslips and a payroll and pensions ecosystem, although work on the latter was still to be completed.
“Government created the GovPay system, a system which links the SSB and pensions system. It has two outputs, which are e-payslips, which are 100 percent complete now, and a payroll and pensions ecosystem, but that one is yet to be completed,” she said.
The development comes as Government continues efforts to strengthen salary and pension administration and improve the way public servants access information relating to their employment.
The meeting mainly focused on preparing civil servants for retirement, with PSC Retirement Planning Officer, Mrs Everjoice Shoshore, urging workers to start planning while they were still in employment.
She said retirement was inevitable and should therefore be treated as an important stage of life requiring early preparation.
“Retirement is certain and it needs planning. Civil servants should not wait until they are about to retire before they start thinking about what they are going to do after employment,” she said.
Mrs Shoshore said some retired civil servants struggled to maintain their livelihoods because they had not adequately prepared themselves financially or developed alternative sources of income while they were still working.
“Government has noted that some civil servants are struggling to enjoy their retirement because they did not adequately prepare for life after employment. This is why we are encouraging you to start planning now and to think about what you will do when you are no longer receiving your salary,” she said.
She urged workers to use their productive years to establish income-generating projects and invest in activities that could continue supporting them after retirement.
“You can invest in projects such as goat rearing, fish farming and poultry production. These are some of the activities that can provide you with income after retirement if you start them while you are still employed,” said Mrs Shoshore.
She also urged civil servants to prioritise home ownership and ensure that their properties were properly secured through acquisition of title deeds.
“Make sure that you have a home and that your property is properly documented. Acquire title deeds for your property because that is an important part of securing your future. Do not wait until retirement to start thinking about these things,” she said.
Mrs Shoshore further encouraged workers to protect their investments and continuously improve their skills so they could remain productive after leaving Government employment.
“Insure your investments. Acquire more skills to use when retired. Retirement planning starts now. The skills that you acquire today can become useful when you retire, particularly if you want to venture into a different area of work or business,” she said.
She also urged civil servants to take their health seriously, saying preparing for retirement should go beyond financial considerations.
“Retirement planning is not only about money. You must also look after your health while you are still working. Go for regular medical check-ups, eat a balanced diet and exercise. You want to reach retirement age healthy enough to enjoy the fruits of your years of service,” said Mrs Shoshore.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator, Mr William Mashava, said the engagement meeting provided an opportunity to recognise the contribution of civil servants while also encouraging them to prepare for the next phase of their lives.
“Retirement is not the end of contribution to the nation. It is the beginning of a new chapter. After serving the country for many years, a retired public servant can still make a meaningful contribution to the community using the experience and skills acquired during their working life,” he said.
Mr Mashava urged civil servants to view retirement as a transition that required preparation rather than something to be feared.
“This engagement gives us an opportunity to appreciate the work that public servants have done and, at the same time, to encourage those who are still in employment to prepare for their future. Retirement should be approached with confidence because proper planning can make the transition easier,” he said.
The Chipinge engagement is part of preparations for the 2026 Retirement Conference, which will run from Wednesday to Friday in Mutare.
