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MORE than 7,000 Zesa pensioners are crying foul over their pension funds saying the power utility’s management is in default of $107 million.One of the pensioners who spoke on condition of anonymity told Chronicle that they were worried as Zesa promised to pay the money over a period of 20 years.
“Zesa agreed to pay the money after 20 years which is quite worrisome for some of us who are turning 80 this year. We won’t be able to reach that age, 100 years is not something to joke about. I suggest they give us our money while we are still alive.
“Some earn as little as $20 while the management is keeping the money,” he said.
A member of the executive committee of Zesa pensioners association who also spoke on condition of anonymity told Chronicle that the Zesa Holdings group CEO, Josh Chifamba refused to have a meeting with them.
“When we requested a meeting with the management, the CEO refused and said they were the ones who were supposed to summon us for a meeting. Chifamba is well aware of the $107 million they owe us.
“What pains me is that they used to deduct money from our pay before we retired, now where is that money? They even are refusing to employ our children,” he said.
In the minutes of the Zesa pensioners association annual meeting held on April 6 last year, members spoke about the pension deficit of about $107 million.
It also stated that the Zesa management was expected to pay $12,8 million before the end of 2013 but had failed.
In a telephone interview, Zesa spokesperson, Fullard Gwasira, denied the allegations saying the pension fund issue was a separate entity.
“It is a separate entity, there is someone who can comment on that issue, not me,” said Gwasira.
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