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Chronicle Reporter

THE National Social Security Authority (Nssa) has awarded pensioners bonuses, part of which will be paid in United States dollars, to improve their welfare.

The bonuses will be issued at the same time as the December payouts.

In a Press statement, the authority said retirement pensioners will be paid US$30, other pensioners will get US$20 and those receiving shared pensions will share the bonuses equally.

NSSA bonus

Pensioners under the Accident Prevention and Worker’s Compensation scheme (APWCS) will be paid up to a maximum of US$35, subject to one’s entitlement. The difference for all pensioners will be paid in Zimbabwe dollars.
Nssa said it is opening Nostro accounts for their pensioners so that they can access the forex bonuses by 16 December, 2022.

However, some pensioners were not happy with the bonuses, which they said can only be used for transport.
They said they hoped they are going to get more next year.

Mr Jesphat Moyo, a pensioner, said he travelled all the way from Kezi thinking he would get the bonus but was disappointed to only get his monthly pension.

He said the money he got only covers transport and his family back in Kezi is waiting for him as they think he will bring groceries for Christmas.
Mr Moyo said he was really excited when he found out that there will be bonuses as he thought this year it will be better.

He said he only found out when he was in Bulawayo that he was travelling for US$30.

“I had to sell a chicken so that l could get transport money. Had I known that l was only coming here for US$30 I was not going to sell my family’s chicken. We could have eaten that chicken for Christmas, had l not wasted it. I am really disappointed in the money that I got today and l don’t even know what l am going to tell my family when l get home,” he said.

A pensioner who only identified herself as Mrs Dube said she woke up early in the morning as she thought she would get a big bonus and buy her children Christmas groceries.

Masses gathered to collect their NSSA bonuses

She said she was disappointed when people started discussing that the bonuses were ranging between US$20 and US$30. However, she told herself that maybe people were lying and had not heard properly until she saw it in the newspapers.

“The money is very little. I cannot even buy my grandchildren any clothes with this money,” said Mrs Dube.

Last year the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) awarded a discretionary bonus equivalent to 50 percent of one’s monthly pay-out to improve the welfare of beneficiaries as part of its transformation journey.

It was awarded in March.

The authority went on to give an allowance to orphans, the invalid, parents and other dependants under the Pension and Other Benefits Scheme (POBS), as well as those receiving workers’ pension, widows’ pension, children’s allowance, constant attendances’ allowance and dependants’ allowance under the APWCS. — @flora_sibanda