THE National Social Security Authority (Nssa) will be conducting a life certificate renewal exercise for its beneficiaries from April 2 to June 28, to eliminate the incidence of ghost beneficiaries.
Issuance of life certificates is an international best practice that safeguards pension funds from paying out to beneficiaries who no longer exist. It is conducted annually.
Nssa deputy director marketing and PR, Tendai Mutseyekwa, said the life certificate renewal exercise will be carried out across Nssa’s six regions encompassing Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo and Chinhoyi, including their respective satellite offices.
“This exercise will affect all Nssa beneficiaries and is carried out for the fund's good as ghost beneficiaries prejudice bona fide recipients by making the cake smaller,” he said.
“For this exercise, pensioners must physically visit any Nssa office with original and photocopies of their national identity card or valid passport. Driver’s licences will not be accepted as proof of identity.
“Those, who are bedridden and grossly disabled, will be visited by Nssa officers in their respective homes. They should submit to the nearest Nssa office their contact addresses and mobile numbers to facilitate visits by our officers,” Mutseyekwa said.
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Nssa officers will also visit selected POSB, National Building Society, and ZimPost during pensioner paydays.
Several local business centres and growth points will be visited by Nssa on dates to be advised.
“Those in the diaspora can download the Diaspora Life Certificate on the Nssa website and should email the completed life certificate to NssaLifeCertificates@nssa.org.zw. Failure to renew a life certificate by 28 June 2024 will result in the suspension of benefit payout,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nssa’s acting general manager, Charles Shava, says the statutory pension fund is determined to improve the welfare of pensioners and is targeting a minimum payout equivalent to US$60, once various interventions they are instituting start bearing fruit.
“We have approximately 240 000 pensioners under Nssa and they are currently getting between US$40 and US$50 per month. We pay in Zimbabwe dollars and alternate with United States dollars, depending on our cashflows,” Shava said.
However, some insurance industry experts said without corresponding increases in incomes, it would be difficult for Nssa to make payments of US$60 without facing financial difficulties.
“As it stands it is not possible for Nssa to pay US$60 to pensioners because of the harsh macro-economic environment. If they decide to increase payouts, they are likely to face payment challenges,” an industry expert said.
The bulk of Nssa’s revenue comes from contributions and investment income, an 82:12 split.
Shava said investment income had improved from 4% to the current 12% over the past two years.
Emmanuel Fundira, chairperson of the Nssa board, said the US$60 pay out will place the fund in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) minimums.
“We have a target of hitting the minimum requirement, which is globally acceptable by ILO standards, which is US$60 per month,” he told the Independent.
“It translates to US$2 per day. Given inflation in US dollars, we aim to exceed that target by the end of December.”
Correction
IN an article titled Nssa bigwigs booted out in fresh purge published last week, we erroneously stated that Nssa corporate affairs director David Makwara was among the five executives, who had been booted out since the Emmanuel Fundira-led board came into office last May, as it implemented recommendations from an audit report by AMG Global Chartered Accountants.
On behalf of the Zimbabwe Independent, we would like to apologise to Makwara for the inconvenience caused. — Editor.