Zimta plans to reward retired members

Zimta, which boasts of a membership base of more than 40 000, has a number of schemes that seek to assist members and staff to improve livelihoods during and after service.

 

Matabeleland North Province on Saturday threw a surprise party at a local hotel for Mrs Thandile Zulu who worked for the organisation for 25 years.

Speaking at the surprise party, Zimta chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said Zimta was what it was today because of members who have served it diligently for years.

Mr Ndlovu said retirees remained part of the Zimta family and needed to be taken care of.

“Today we are gathered here in honour of a retiring officer. I knew her since 1987 when she had just become a permanent staff member after working for a number of years on part time basis.

“We shared a small office in Matabeleland North and today she is retiring after serving the organisation diligently,” said Mr Ndlovu.

“This is a good initiative by Matabeleland North. Zimta still has to invite all retirees and do something for them but provinces should continue preparing human resources for their welfare after retiring.

“It is important to note that Zimta business sometimes takes us away from our families but it was the experience of such people as Mrs Zulu that shaped Zimta Matabeleland North to be what it is today. We want to wish her a very restful retirement and life after Zimta.”

Scores of Zimta members mainly from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South and some from the national executive attended the party.

Zimta national treasurer Mr Edgar Moyo said people such as Mrs Zulu needed recognition as pioneers of the association.

“We are celebrating the work that Mrs Zulu did for the organisation. She is one of the pioneers of Zimta and laid the foundation of the organisation and hope she will continue being of service. Zimta will definitely do something for retirees,” he said.

Mrs Zulu started as a typist when the provincial office was still in Hwange and rose to be the executive administrator responsible for capturing data on membership.

Born in 1950 in Ndolwane, Bulilima District, Mrs Zulu did her primary education at Ndolwane Primary School.

She said she could not proceed to secondary school because she had not attained the required grade for her to go to Form One.