Online Reporter
Hundreds of people, mostly civil servants, have gathered at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair for the 2025 edition of the Public Service Commission Retirement Conference.
The two-day conference is being held under the theme “Retirement Planning in Action: Transforming Insights into Realities.”
Several presentations will be done to help prepare attendees for retirement.
According to the programme, the Chairman of PSC Dr Vincent Hungwe, will present on the Future of Retirement Planning in the public service.
Professor Somododa Fikeno from South Africa will present on the policy retirement framework in South Africa.
Other presenters will include Finance and Economic Development secretary Mr George Guvamatanga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities Engineer Tedious Chinya, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Obert Jiri, among others.
The conference will highlight opportunities in various fields like agriculture, mining and entrepreneurship, which civil servants can venture into.
Our reporters, Mkhululi Ncube, Trish Mukwazo and Senior Photographer Obey Sibanda are attending the conference and will be giving us live updates.
VP Kembo Mohadi to Officially Open Public Service Commission Retirement Conference 2025
Vice President Kembo Mohadi is set to officially open the Public Service Commission Retirement Conference 2025.
The VP is now touring the exhibition held alongside the conference, engaging with various displays and participants.
Following the exhibition tour, the official proceedings of the conference will commence, marking the start of this important event for civil servants and stakeholders in the public service sector.
Devolution in action: Bulawayo conference highlights opportunities for growth
Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube has welcomed attendees to the conference, saying the gathering is significant in reflecting the Second Republic’s deliberate policy thrust towards devolution and decentralisation, ensuring that essential programmes and initiatives are not confined to the capital but cascaded to all corners of the country.
She said that by bringing this conference, the PSC has demonstrated its principle of leaving no one and no place behind.
“Indeed, this decentralised approach ensures government workers across the province are empowered with knowledge and tools to prepare for a dignified life beyond active service.”
The conference will engage in discussions and presentations conveying key aspects of retirement planning.
“The discussions reveal the rare opportunities Bulawayo province has to offer,” she said.
The Minister said the province is richly empowered with assets that, if strategically leveraged, can drive economic growth and sustainable development led not only by our current retirees but also by those preparing for that stage of life.
She also noted that Bulawayo stands ready to demonstrate how it’s natural and how Human Resources can be transformed into engines of prosperity.
“The province has already proven its capacity to host high-profile exhibitions, conferences and international meetings through the ZITF, supported by a strong network of hotels and conference facilities,” she said.
She concluded her speech by noting that the government is sowing seeds of a more secure, confident and prosperous society, “These initiatives transform lives, strengthen communities and ultimately contribute to national development.”
New Pension Bill aims to secure retirement future for public servants
CHAIRMAN of the Public Service Commission Dr Vincent Hungwe has said the State service pension bill currently before Parliament seeks to introduce reforms for sustainable arrangements, such as the transition from the pay-as-you-go model and several arrangements to modernise oversight of pension arrangements.
He said the story of the public service of Zimbabwe is the story of commitment to nation-building.
“The future we envision is one where every public servant retires with dignity, security and hope supported by sound policies, sustainable initiatives and opportunities to thrive beyond the workplace,” he said.
He said women and men who gave their best years in service to the nation, teaching, healing the sick, protecting, building and giving service to the citizens deserve collective responsibility for their future well-being.
“It is for this reason that our vision is to anchor the future of retirement in the public service in a wall of government and a wall of society approach,” he said.
The chairman said the mantra, so consistently pounded by His Excellency the President of leaving no one and no place behind, makes it imperative to ensure that retirees are on board in the journey to achieve an empowered upper middle income status by 2030.
“It is our conviction, therefore, that our future trajectory for retirement in the public service is guided by the national vision as we seek to ensure that by 2030 the status of a retired civil servant should mirror that of a retiree in an upper middle income society, “ he said.
Public Service Commission Launches Strategic Retirement Planning Initiatives
The Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Dr Vincent Hungwe, has announced significant measures aimed at strengthening retirement planning for public servants.
A dedicated department on retirement planning has been established within the PSC Secretariat, tasked with developing policies, programming, and management frameworks to ensure that retirement planning becomes a sustainable and integral part of public service careers.
Dr Hungwe explained, “A training module to educate all members of the public service on retirement planning was launched last year and is currently being used across various public service training institutes to orient and prepare civil servants for retirement.”
He emphasized the PSC’s commitment to continuous retirement education, stating, “We intend to provide ongoing retirement education throughout a public servant’s career, starting with mandatory induction training on retirement planning when they join the service.”
The Chairman further revealed that retirement education programs will be implemented at all career stages—entry level, mid-career, and pre-retirement—and that efforts are underway to develop a comprehensive retirement policy to guide these initiatives.
“Our approach is inclusive, ensuring that all stakeholders are consulted and given the opportunity to contribute insights during the policy development process. This conference provides a vital platform for such engagement,” Dr Hungwe added.
On pension sustainability, Dr Hungwe highlighted a new model of indexation designed to keep monthly pensions aligned with cost-of-living adjustments negotiated between the government as employer and worker representatives.
He also discussed the prudent investment strategy of the State Service Pension Fund, which includes leveraging pension assets for long-term infrastructure and national development while managing risks.
“The Public Service Pension Fund has grown to about US$700 million in diversified assets, including real estate and infrastructure. These investments not only provide a hedge against inflation but also support national priorities such as housing and the development of smart cities,” Dr Hungwe said.
He concluded, “Achieving this requires knowledge-driven investment strategies, fostering resilience against macroeconomic shocks and securing the future of public service pensions.”
Retirement is a new beginning, not an end: VP Mohadi
Vice President Kembo Mohadi has urged Zimbabweans to view retirement not as an end, but as a new beginning, encouraging them to plan effectively for this stage of life.
The VP was speaking at the Public Service Commission Retirement Conference, where he was representing President Mnangagwa.
“We also look ahead with determination, charting a bold course towards a secure and dignified future for every servant of our republic,” he said.
He said this year’s theme, “transforming insights into reality,” resonates deeply with the collective vision and national funders towards the attainment of the nation’s vision.
“Indeed, the energy in this hall is not just palpable, it is a testament to our unity of purpose, our partnership and our shared stewardship of the motherland,
“Last year at the inaugural conference, we ignited a national conversation. We declared that retirement planning is not a luxury but a must, a cornerstone of a prosperous, inclusive Zimbabwe, “said VP Mohadi.
The Vice President said ambitious goals are to empower public service tools, knowledge and systems to transition into retirement with confidence and purpose.
“We envision a nation where every civil servant could retire not in uncertainty but into opportunity,
“Today we take stock of that vision, celebrate our progress and recommend turning insights into tangible realities,” he said.
He commended the Public Service Commission (PSC) for diligently executing its constitutional mandate with commendable results.
He highlighted that Section 199 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe tasked the PSC with ensuring an efficient, professional and forward-thinking public service guided by government policy and in alignment with the national vision and attendance strategies.
“Initiatives such as these conference are therefore not isolated programs they are an extension of our collective commitment to building a public service that is responsive patriotic and future-oriented.
“In this regard the work of the public service commission is a vital step in our shared journey towards the attainment of vision 2030 which the government has solemnly pledged to deliver an upper middle-income society that leaves no one and no place behind,” he said.
Under the mantra, the Vice President said retirement planning is not a peripheral issue it is the heartbeat of vision 2030, “An upper middle-income society is measured not only by economic metrics but by the dignity and security of its people especially its retirees,”
“Our national development strategy 1 and NDS 1 has laid the foundation with its pillars of inclusivity human capital development and sustainable growth,
“As we prepare to launch the national development strategy number two we carry forward these principles ensuring that retirees are not just pensioners but potential farmers, consultants, artisans and community leaders. This is this is what it means to transform insights into realities,” he said.
Reflecting on last year’s conference the government spoke of a new door for retirement planning.
He highlighted that government recognised the historical scars left by high inflation which eroded the savings of many pensioners pledging to restore dignity through justice innovation and empowerment.
“The 2024 amendment to the pensions and the provident funds act changes the landmark report in this chapter marking a decisive step towards protecting pensioners, strengthening accountability and restoring confidence in our retirement systems. This legislation establishes a modern transparently robust pension system mandating inflation proof investment and stringent governance to safeguard contributions,” he said.
