Government has applauded the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) for fostering economic and infrastructural development in the country while calling on other companies to join forces in helping the country to develop.
By Lovejoy Mutongwiza Recently In Victoria Falls
Speaking at the recently ended East and Central African Social Security Association (ECASA) Delagates meeting in Victoria Falls recently, Matebeleland North Provincial Minister, Ambassador Cain Matema applauded NSSA for championing development despite the current economic hardships the country is faced with.
He encouraged delegates, drawn from eight countries to spread the “Zimbabwe is Open for business” mantra while reaffirming the critical role being played by NSSA in that regard.
“Seeing we are in this ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ i would like you to go back and sell this to your countries. Let them know that not only is Zimbabwe open for business but so is NSSA.
“NSSA plays a critical role in the economy of the country.it invests in infrastructure development, so I hope your own social security associations can take a leaf from what NSSA is doing here in Zimbabwe. We hope you invest in the infrastructure development of your economies,” said Ambassador Matema.
This comes as NSSA has identified a new company that will re-open its $39 million hotel in Beitbridge which ceased operations in May 2016.
In its 2016 financial report, NSSA announced that the Chipinge Commercial Centre project was completed and opened for business in November 2016. It is the town’s biggest development in more than a decade and should attract other investments to Chipinge and its surroundings.
Acting NSSA Board Chairperson, Daphine Tomana emphasized that the role played by social security administrators should not be underestimated as it has far-reaching ramifications on the daily lives of people.
“…we should never underestimate the role as administrators of social security. The decisions that we make on a daily basis have far-reaching ramifications to the livelihoods of many. It goes without saying that we, therefore, need to remain vigilant to ensure that our respective organisations grow from strength to strength.
In a speech read on her behalf, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Petronella Kagonye, however, bemoaned the absence of social security coverage for workers on the informal sector as she said it left them exposed.
“The situation in most countries is that existing schemes cover for workers in the public sector and workers in the private sector on regular contracts, the majority of workers, such as temporary, agricultural, domestic, informal and migrant workers, to a large extent, self-employed workers are excluded from social insurance coverage,” said Tomana.
She added that the government has taken great strides in ensuring that social security coverage is extended to the formal economy.
NSSA is currently working on modalities of introducing a voluntary social security scheme which is tailored to benefit employees in the formal economy.
