The endless scandals of NSSA are a betrayal of Zimbabwes older people

The recent revelations about the wasteful advantages proposed for managers of the National Social Insurance Authority (NSSA) are nothing less than moral outrage.

This applies in particular in a country in which pensioners are a lean existence in an average monthly pension of only 50 US dollars – and in some cases even less – scratch together

This is not just a question of bad government; It is a cruel betrayal of people who were created the institution for protection.

NSSA should never be a money cow for its managers.

It was developed to protect the dignity and livelihood of Zimbabwes older and injured workers – men and women who had violently deducted part of their salaries over decades in the hope that they would retire with a feeling of security and respect.

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Instead, what we see is a grotesque reversal of this promise.

According to a recent report in the Sunday dimensions, the government had to intervene in the President and Cabinet's office on the Corporate Governance Unit (CGU) after the NSSA board member extravagant advantages for Dr. Charles Shava had suggested that the reigning general manager typed for the content of the content.

The package contained, among other things, a proposed basic content of $ 15,730 in the amount of $ 47,280 per year or a monthly $ 3,940.

This is not all yet.

The Board So Wanted to Throw in A 10 Percent Monthly Representation Allowance (US $ 1,730), 100 percent school fees coverage for up to Three Children Benchmarked at Expensive Institutions Like Prince Edward School and Africa University, A House in A Harare Low Density Suburb, 24-Hour private Security, A DSTV Premium Bouquet, Two Domestic Workers, Luxury Holidays with Business Class Flight for the General Manager and Spouse and Economy Tickets for Up to Four Kinder Plus 3,000 US vacation allowance.

Suggestions for vehicle loans were even more ridiculous up to the value of his annual content and the complete cover for personal development costs.

The CGU rejected the majority of these proposals and rightly cited the new remuneration framework of the public sector and the law on the company's company government, which limits the overall remuneration to 30 to 70 percent of the income or the operational budget of a company.

The fact that the board of NSSA even dared to propose such a package in the current economic climate is a damn charges of what his leadership is from the reality that is exposed to most of the Zimba.

It is an insult to those older citizens who are struggling to survive in throttling pensions that do not even cover their monthly basic foods, let alone rent, electricity or medical expenses.

Let us put this in the context.

A bread in Zimbabwe now costs 1 US dollar. The monthly basic electricity consumption for an average household requires about 20 US dollars.

The healthcare system, especially in public institutions, in which patients often have to pay for medication, tests, operations and even gloves from the tocket, is increasingly unaffected.

How does NSA expect that someone will survive with 50 US dollars a month, especially those who are now older, vulnerable and largely unable to protect themselves for themselves?

This is not about people who demand handouts.

These pensioners deserve their fees.

NSSA is not a social welfare institution – it is an mandatory social security system.

Zimbabwische Workers had no choice but to contribute part of their income to the NSSA, with the government promised them that these funds would secure their future.

What we see now is not the fulfillment of this promise, but its calculated betrayal.

This scandal is not an isolated event.

NSSA has a long and well -documented history of corruption, grievances and political interference.

One of the best-known scandals in relation to the former Minister of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare, Prisca Mupumira, which was arrested in 2019 by the Zimbabwe anti-corruption Commission (ZACC) for abuse of over $ 95 million from NSSA during her term.

It was accused of using NSSA funds for personal enrichment and financing political activities.

Other NSSA officials were also involved in dodgy investments, dubious real estate transactions and irregular financial practices.

This pattern shows a culture of impunity, claim and gross disregard for the mission of authority.

The excuse that NSSA lacks the funds to increase pensions to a viable level simply does not keep water.

If the money has to offer its top managers monthly benefits, including luxury holidays and private security, tens of thousands of dollars, it can certainly afford to increase the payments to the people whose contributions have built this fund in the first place.

The real problem here is mismanagement and greed.

It is high time that the government goes beyond increasing the red flags.

Zimbabwer is fed up with being performing performative. What we demand is real action.

Those who are responsible for the looting of NSSA must be brought to book.

There must be complete transparency in how the remuneration of managers defines and clear statutory upper limits for salaries, bonuses and services are established in state companies such as NSSA.

We cannot continue to allow some people to enrich themselves at the expense of millions of Zimbabwer.

It is even more important that there must be a radical reorientation of NSSA's priorities.

The beneficiaries of the program – older people and injuries – come first.

No NSSA manager should earn more than ten times the average pensioner.

In fact, the average NSSA pension should not be less than 200 US dollars per month to ensure that pensioners can live with fundamental dignity, buy food and clothing, pay for pension companies and do a decent health care.

In a country that claims to respect its citizens, everything that is less is simply not acceptable.

Those who currently lead NSSA have to ask themselves how they sleep at night.

How can you accept a five -digit content with every conscience and know that older people who rely on their leadership go to bed hungry, cold and sick?

How can you justify driving a luxury vehicle paid by the same fund that gives widows and pensioners the equivalent of a food voucher?

This is not just a governance crisis. It is a moral.

And the time for silence is over.

Our parents, exactly the people who have built this nation through hard work for decades, deserve it better.

You may no longer have the strength to get up and speak – but we, your children, do it.

If the leaders of NSSA have no shame, we have to shame them to do the right thing.

If you do not do the right thing, you have to be forced by law, by activism and public pressure.

The putrefaction at NSSA has to end now – not tomorrow, not next year.

Let the looters and profiteers be exposed and taken into account.

Let the money go where it belongs: in the hands of the people who deserve it.

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