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Comesa region has a network of 28,000 kilometres (28,000 km = 17,398 mi) of rail network with an area of about 12 million square kilometres and this has been cited as one of the hindrances to the trade area’s development

Sithandazile Moyo Business Reporter
NATIONAL Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) pensioners have started receiving their pension backdated to January 2014, an official has said.
In a telephone interview yesterday, the president of the Pensioners’ Association Esaph Mdlongwa said pensioners started receiving their money from February 27 and most of them were happy about the development.

Mdlongwa said the pensioners’ funds have been unbundled and pensioners are receiving their money in accordance to grades.

“The unbundling of pensioners’ funds is a great achievement considering where we are coming from, we want to make sure that all pensioners are recognised and that they receive their money according to the number of years they served and in accordance with their grades,” he said.

At a pensioners’ meeting in Sizinda last week, Mdlongwa said since dollarisation 87 percent of pensioners were receiving 6 cents as the pension fund could not sustain them.

“About 87 percent of the pensioners were bundled into one group and they were receiving 6 cents as payment which could not sustain them and it was not good at all,” said Mdlongwa.

He expressed gratitude to the NRZ management for allowing the pensioners to be unbundled so that they get what they deserve.

“We are grateful that NRZ management has considered the issue of unbundling so that people will get their money in accordance with grade and class,” he said.

Mdlongwa encouraged pensioners to join his association so that they work together for the betterment of their lives.

“I am encouraging all of you here to be members of the association so that we can be able to work together to uplift our lives and improve our lifestyles,” he said.

He said the pensioners should work with the association to air their views and problems to responsible authorities.