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as US$25 per month.
Pensioners and legislators have described the money as a “pittance” which is not even enough to cover travel expen-ses incurred while collecting it.
The pensioners also called on Government to intervene as some had already stopped collecting the money.
Debating a report presented by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the beneficiaries said the US$25 pension they receive from NSSA would not make any meaningful contribution to their lives.
“NSSA has treated us very badly. Some of us have been contributing to the scheme for a long time and what we are getting is nothing,” Mr Musa Murenje of Highfield said.
Mr Lameck Alick, a former mine worker said: “The money is not enough. The costs for travelling to any of the centres to get the money are too much. There is a serious need to review the money because the money is just as good as nothing. What would I buy with US$25?”
Mr John Kazembe said NSSA had invested in a number of projects that should benefit members.
“They have built a number of properties that should be making profit and these funds should be channeled towards the benefit of contributors,” he said.
In its presentation, the Parliamentary committee chaired by Mazowe South Member of the House of Assembly, Cde Margaret Zinyemba (Zanu-PF) recommended that a foren-sic audit be conducted to establish NSSA’s operations.
Magwegwe legislator Mr Felix Sibanda (MDC-T) said while the rational of setting up the parastatal was noble, it served no meaningful value to a worker once he retires.
“NSSA has established business ventures in Harare and across the country but after retiring, a poor worker does not benefit anything from the ventures that NSSA is accruing in business,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said what was strange was that NSSA staff members lead a luxurious life as they have built “mansions” for themselves while the worker continues to wallow in pove-rty.
“As long as we do not make a follow-up on these recommendations, a worker will work day and night but die poor like a church mouse.
“They (NSSA staff) have established housing schemes throughout Zimbabwe and we have discovered that the beneficiaries are not ordinary workers,” he said.
Gokwe Member of the House of Assembly, Cde Dorothy Mhangami (Zanu-PF) said it was critical to widen the probe to all pension funds.
“I suggest that all those that are taking pensions at some level should be probed. It appears employees are not well versed on what they should be getting when they retire,” said Cde Mhangami.
Online Reporter