Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has urged civil servants to begin preparing for life after employment early by investing, acquiring additional skills and securing homes to ensure a comfortable and dignified retirement.
The call was made in Chipinge on Monday during a PSC engagement meeting with civil servants ahead of the 2026 Retirement Conference, which runs from today until Friday in Mutare.
The engagement sought to equip public servants with information on financial planning, investments, health and other key considerations necessary for a smooth transition from formal employment into retirement.
PSC retirement planning officer Mrs Everjoice Shoshore said retirement was inevitable and required deliberate planning.
“Retirement is inevitable and should not be approached as something to be dealt with only when a worker was about to leave employment,” said Mrs Shoshore.
She said Government had observed that some civil servants failed to fully enjoy life after retirement because they had not adequately prepared for the transition while still employed.
Mrs Shoshore encouraged workers to make prudent use of their income by investing in projects that could continue generating revenue after retirement.
She cited goat rearing, fish farming and poultry production as some of the income-generating ventures civil servants could consider as part of their retirement plans.
Mrs Shoshore also encouraged public servants to prioritise home ownership and ensure that their properties were properly secured through 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 urged workers to protect their investments and continuously upgrade their skills to 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.
Retirement planning should also include maintaining good health, added Mrs Shoshore, and encouraged civil servants to undergo regular medical check-ups, eat balanced diets and exercise regularly.
“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,” she said.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the PSC to update workers on developments in salary and pension administration.
PSC manager for payroll management Mrs Mildred Mutandaro said Government had introduced the GovPay system to link the Salary Service Bureau and the pensions system.
She said the system had two outputs — e-payslips and a payroll and pensions ecosystem.
“The e-payslips are 100 percent complete now, but the payroll and pensions ecosystem is yet to be completed,” Mrs Mutandaro said.
The development is expected to strengthen the linkage between salary and pension administration as Government continues refining the system.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator Mr William Mashava said the engagement was important as it gave public servants an opportunity to reflect on their years of service while preparing for the next phase of their lives.
He said public servants deserved recognition for their contribution to national development through their work in schools, clinics, ministries and communities.
“We are here to celebrate the years of dedicated service, sacrifice and commitment that public servants give to the nation,” Mr Mashava said.
He described public servants as the backbone of service delivery, highlighting their critical role in communities and Government institutions.
“We are here to prepare. Retirement is not the end of contribution to the nation. It is the beginning of a new chapter,” he said.
The Chipinge engagement was attended by civil servants, including departmental heads and officers approaching retirement, as well as representatives from organisations providing pension, insurance and wellness-related services.
