National Social Security Authority (NSSA) managers have awarded themselves hefty salaries without the consent of the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry as required by the law, the Zim Morning Post has heard.
Zim Morning Post can exclusively reveal that the top bosses are set to earn more than RTGS $20 000 in salaries while other hefty benefits have been tabled which will see some managers taking home more than RTGS $100 000 at a time pensioners are wallowing in poverty.
Sources said the salaries are also accompanied with a school fees package for their children quoted using the St George’s College fee structures which is currently US$1365.
“They are going to be given school fees for their kids which is quoted using the St Georges college fees structure that will be deposited into their banks at the inter bank rate,” the source revealed.
“What is shocking is that the board has since been notified of the salary and benefits adjustments. The board has to make sure Nssa is run appropriately but it does not play its oversight role.”
This is not the first time NSSA bosses awarded themselves hefty salaries without the Ministry’s approval. In May 2016 the Auditor General Mildred Chiri bemoaned hefty salary adjustments without ministry approval.
In her audit reports on State enterprises and parastatals, Chiri said: “I observed that management’s contracts had amounts that were in excess of the approved framework by the secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.”
This is happening during a time where Government has called for austerity measures. The direct beneficiaries,the pensioners are also struggling to survive as they are being paid a paltry RTGS80 per month.
Workers have also raised their concern on the issue saying that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (ZACC) should investigate this kind of corruption.
“What we are witnessing at NSSA is what is happening at national level. We mourn the loss of revenue which could help the ordinary worker and ordinary pensioner, we call upon the Anti-Corruption unit to investigate this form of corruption,” said Almagamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe President Obert Masaraure.