Zimbabwe ZCTU president pleads for government intervention in NSSA’s misconducts

Conert Sibanda

09-10-23

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president has pleaded with the government to intervene in the operations of the National Social Security Authority (NSSA).

This was said by Florence Taruvinga during a 60th Safety and Health at Work (SHAW) conference on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).

In response to the ZCTU’s plea to address the salary issue in order to eliminate mental health problems at work, the Minister of Public Service, Labor, and Social Welfare, July Moyo, stated that salary increments involve government processes from more than one ministry.

“We have viable negotiations forum where workers are well represented, government through ministry and ministry of finance are represented and without giving any direction, we will wait until those negotiations are finalized and recommendations come to government and we see what to do.” Said Minister July Moyo.

During the conference’s session on mental health at work, Mrs Taruvinga alluded to corruption on the NSSA board and the withholding of pension funds.

“And however we wish to express our displeasure on corruption and misgovernance within NSSA. Honorable minister, it appears that issues of misgovernance and corruption have become parenial problem at NSSA as perpetrators continue to scort go free while pensioners wallow in poverty.” Said Mrs Taruvinga

Mrs Taruvinga also exclaimed that salaries are a major cause of mental health problems at work, which the government needs to address.

“Honorable ministers here present, the issues of salary erosion the issues of wages are continuing to be the most of the issues that are causing mental stress in the constituency that I represent, so it is our continued plea that we make sure worker in Zimbabwe are treated with decency and dignity even when it comes to remuneration of what they have input as labour.” Mr Taruvinga said.

In an interview with the media, Mrs. Taruvinga suggested that a strong arm of the law be implemented within NSSA to bring the perpetrators of corruption to justice.

“We are all getting old, we cannot expect a US$30 monthly payout to be sufficient for 2 weeks for a family of even 2. So we really need to further speak on the issues of corruption within NSSA and we continue calling the powers that be, that the perpetrators they must be put on book for them to be even afraid to touch such caufers because it looks like anyone who thinks of making sure that they put money into their pockets as long as they are put in the position of power within NSSA they are leveraging them at the expense of citizens and pensioners.” Said Mrs Taruvinga .

Ends///