ZSCA Calls for Pension Justice: Non-Contributing Seniors Deserve Compensation, Says Chairman Ndlovu

By Evans Jona

The Zimbabwe Senior Citizens Association (ZSCA) has called for the establishment of a universal old-age compensation scheme to cushion thousands of elderly citizens who never contributed to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) but now live in poverty.

In an exclusive interview, ZSCA Chairman Patrick Ndlovu said the plight of non-pensioned seniors has reached a critical stage, with many ageing Zimbabweans facing hunger, illness, and destitution after decades of informal work that offered no retirement security.

“The issue is highly widespread, especially in rural and peri-urban areas,” Ndlovu explained. “A significant percentage of elderly Zimbabweans – particularly those who worked in the informal sector or as subsistence farmers – do not receive any pension or social security. Many survive only through family support, informal trade, or charity.”

He said the absence of any formal income support for these senior citizens represents a growing social injustice that requires urgent government attention.

Ndlovu attributed the crisis to Zimbabwe’s decades of economic instability and widespread informalization of the labour market. “Many people who worked through the 1990s and 2000s lost formal employment when companies closed,” he said. “They spent the rest of their productive years hustling informally, without access to NSSA or private pension schemes.”

He added that the country’s economic history has created an entire generation of ageing citizens who worked hard but have nothing to fall back on. “This group cannot be ignored. They built the foundations of our economy and deserve a dignified old age,” he said.

ZSCA has been lobbying the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Parliament to consider non-contributory pensions or social grants for all citizens above a certain age, regardless of their work history.

“We’ve submitted policy briefs to government ministries, NSSA, and the relevant parliamentary portfolio committees,” Ndlovu revealed. “Our goal is simple, to make sure no elderly person dies of hunger or preventable disease simply because they didn’t contribute to a pension fund decades ago.”

He said the association supports the creation of a universal old-age grant similar to child support or BEAM-type welfare assistance, focusing on healthcare, food, and basic needs.

Asked how the country could sustain such a policy, Ndlovu proposed creative measures that blend community participation, digital innovation, and financial inclusion.

“Zimbabwe can build a sustainable social safety net by integrating informal-sector workers into micro-pension schemes and encouraging voluntary savings through mobile platforms,” he said. “Government could also offer matching grants or tax relief to those who contribute consistently.”

He said ZSCA is also pushing for decentralized elderly welfare registration points to ensure that rural citizens, who often lack internet access, are not left out.

Beyond policy, Ndlovu appealed to younger generations to take an active role in supporting their ageing relatives.

“We must revive the culture of intergenerational responsibility,” he said. “Younger family members should help elderly parents with medical care, food, and emotional support. The community has a moral duty to ensure that no senior citizen suffers in silence.”

He emphasized that retirement planning should start early, even for young people in the informal sector. “It’s never too soon to prepare for the future,” he said.

As Zimbabwe continues to rebuild its economy, Ndlovu said it is time for the nation to reckon with the silent crisis of its elderly population.

“We talk about social justice and empowerment, but what justice exists for a grandmother who worked her whole life in the fields and now has nothing to eat?” he asked. “Every senior citizen deserves compensation, dignity, and peace in their final years.”

ZSCA’s push for a universal old-age grant could mark the beginning of long-overdue pension reform, one that recognizes not just years of formal employment, but a lifetime of contribution to the nation’s growth.

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