Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino in GWERU
HEALTH sector workers have been urged to make wise investments and other related economic initiatives to generate income that will cushion them from challenges many face after retirement.
The remarks have been made by the Pension Master of Zimbabwe, Mr Kudakwashe Makiwa, at the on-going Health Sector Wellness Festival organised by the Health Service Commission (HSC) under the theme “Stronger Together-Healthier Together”.
Mr Makiwa said it was unfortunate many people, after retirement, failed to sustain the livelihoods they maintained while still going to work because they lacked adequate post-retirement advice.
“You need to plan your life after retirement well. It is important for all of us to realise that we are one day going to be at home, no longer working. That is a reality that we are now facing because our strength to continue working is diminishing by the day as we grow old.
“Come up with initiatives that will help you generate more streams of income. You should not say your children will look after you when you retire, because they might also have inadequacies that will restrict them to help you,” Mr Makiwa said.
Zimbabwe’s age of retirement for health sector employees is set from 55 years up to 70 years, and those in retirement are expected to receive money pegged at 67 percent of the serving member.
Mr Makiwa also called upon human resource officers in the health sector to quickly submit all necessary retirement documents so that they are processed to enable those going into retirement to quickly get their pension.
“We are now capacitating human resource officers in public health sector institutions with training in ensuring they submit all the necessary papers to facilitate the processing of the pensions on time. It is inappropriate for someone to spend a year without receiving their pension because there are papers improperly filed. That is not what we want,” Mr Makiwa added.
The wellness festival was organised by the HSC in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
