Pensioners get Christmas bonuses

Pensioners have something to be merry about this Christmas as the National Social Security Authority will give them a bonus that is equivalent to their monthly payouts.

In an interview, NSSA chairman Mr Robin Vela said, "We are doing this in the spirit of trying to alleviate poverty in these difficult times to ensure that pensioners enjoy their benefits in this festive season.

"We hope we will carry out the same programme in the New Year period. We are going to give each and every pensioner an extra monthly payment on top of his or her usual monthly benefit."

Nssa first announced the bonus last week under measures to motivate former and current employees associated with the Authority.

A Nssa document released to our Harare Bureau reads, "The National Social Security Authority is pleased to announce that it will pay a Christmas bonus to all its pensioners in December 2016.

"The bonus will be paid to all registered pensioners of the Pension and Other Benefits Scheme (POBS) and of the Accident Prevention and Workers' Compensation Scheme (APWCS).

"Under the POBS, the following categories will receive the bonus: retirement pensioners, invalidity pensioners and survivor pensioners. Under the APWCS, the following categories will receive the bonus: workers pensioners, widow/widower pensioners, children and other beneficiaries."

Meanwhile, civil servants said they will remain optimistic and patient with the Government over the payment of their 2016 bonuses banking on the promise made by President Mugabe that they will receive their 13th cheque.

The Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said they would remain patiently looking forward to their bonuses.

"We are assuming that the bonuses will be paid this year, we do not want to get the Government into unilateral mode by ignoring the principle of bonuses. We are expecting them to pay us," he said.

He said they hoped the Government was not about to use a secret token that they have been throwing around of stands for civil servants pointing out that not everyone was interested.

"The Government should note that not every civil servant is interested in the land that they are promising. We heard that it will be in lieu of the bonuses but still not everyone is interested," said Mr Ndlovu.

Mr Ndlovu said they were waiting for official communication from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Prisca Mupfumira and were hoping her silence means she was seized with the matter and would give positive feedback.