Over 100 Pensioners Sue NSSA Over 'Paltry' Pensions as Reward Kangai Backs Court Challenge

More than 100 pensioners have filed a High Court application seeking a review of NSSA pension payments, saying they no longer reflect their contributions or the cost of living.

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | HARARE

More than 100 Zimbabwean pensioners have filed a High Court application against the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), arguing that the pensions they receive are too low to meet basic living costs and no longer reflect the contributions they made during their working lives. The application, led by pensioner Gideon Shoko, seeks a court order compelling NSSA to review its pension payment system to ensure benefits are linked to members' contributions and the current cost of living.

According to court papers reported by The Herald, the average monthly NSSA pension is about US$55, while widows and widowers reportedly receive around US$20 per month.

"Even though we diligently contributed to NSSA's Pension and Other Benefits Scheme throughout our working lives, what we now receive is completely out of sync with the cost of basic survival in Zimbabwe," Shoko said in his affidavit.

"We cannot afford food, shelter, clothing, medication or transportation."

The applicants argue that current pension payments have failed to keep pace with inflation and Zimbabwe's changing economic conditions.

"NSSA's payments do not reflect the value of what pensioners contributed during their working years. Forcing people into poverty after a lifetime of work goes against both constitutional protections and basic human decency," Shoko added.

Former NetOne chief executive Reward Kangai has publicly supported the lawsuit, saying it highlights broader concerns affecting pensioners across Zimbabwe's pension industry. Writing on X, Kangai argued that similar challenges exist in other occupational pension schemes and suggested further legal action could follow if concerns remain unresolved. He cited the case of former PTC Postmaster General Raymond Mutambirwa, claiming the retired executive reportedly receives a monthly pension of about US$80 despite the former PTC Pension Fund having owned significant property assets.

Kangai questioned how pension funds could continue paying retirees modest benefits while fund managers remained well remunerated.

"Surely, this sad state of affairs of such low pensions cannot be allowed to continue unabated whilst the fund managers remain unaffected," he wrote.

Kangai also claimed that pensioners had previously submitted proposals to the Communications and Allied Industries Pension Fund (CAIPF) and the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) but had not received a response. He said affected pensioners were considering legal action against both institutions if the issues remained unresolved. According to The Herald, the applicants argue that the current pension structure infringes constitutional rights relating to property and social security, and are seeking a declaratory order requiring NSSA to review its pension formula. The High Court is yet to determine the matter.

If successful, the case could have significant implications for Zimbabwe's pension sector by prompting broader reviews of pension calculations and benefit structures across both statutory and occupational pension funds. NSSA had not publicly responded to the court application at the time of publication.

NSSA pension court case