Government remains firmly committed to restoring the dignity and well-being of retired citizens, including the thousands of health professionals who have dedicated their lives to serving the nation. This assurance was delivered by His Excellency, President Dr. ED Mnangagwa, in a keynote address read on his behalf by Vice President Kembo Mohadi at the 2025 Public Service Retirement Conference held in Bulawayo.
The President paid tribute to the contributions of retired civil servants and saluted those still in service for their resilience in driving national development despite prevailing challenges. He said the conference theme, “Retirement planning in action: Transforming insights into realities”, resonated deeply with Government’s collective vision and mainstreaming of retirement planning as one of the key pillars towards the attainment of an inclusive Vision 2030.
“Retirement planning is not a peripheral issue; it’s the heartbeat of Vision 2030. An upper middle-income society is measured not only by economic metrics but by the dignity and security of its people, especially its retirees,” said President Mnangagwa.
He assured delegates that Government had put in place firm safeguards to ensure that the painful experiences of the past, when hyperinflation eroded pensions and savings, will never be repeated. “Its recommendations reflect our Government’s unwavering commitment to equitable solutions. We have listened, we have acted, and we will continue to act until every pensioner’s dignity is restored,” he said, referencing the Justice Smith Commission of Inquiry into pension and insurance fund losses.
The President highlighted the passing of the 2024 amendment to the Pension and Provident Funds Act as a decisive turning point in this regard. “This legislation establishes a modern, transparent, and robust pension system, mandating inflation-proof investments and stringent governance to safeguard contributions. This Bill is not just law, it is my Administration’s covenant with the people, a promise that your future is as sacred as your service,” he declared.
He also emphasised the importance of experienced professionals to national development, noting that by raising the retirement age from 65 to 70, Government had empowered doctors, engineers, teachers and administrators to serve longer while securing their financial futures.
“This is not just policy; it is our Government’s unwavering commitment to ensure that those who build Zimbabwe are themselves built up,” the President added.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Health Service Commission Commissioner Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr Gerald Gwinji underscored the need for health workers to also embrace retirement planning early in their careers.
Commissioner Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr Gwinji emphasized that retirement planning in the health sector has long been overlooked and must be integrated into the career journey of every healthcare worker. He said planning should begin from the day one joins the service so that employees are adequately prepared for life after work.
“It is a noble idea that we also start talking about retirement planning for health workers. It’s an area that has been neglected, which really needs attention. I feel that such an approach should start when someone is employed and made aware that they have joined the health service, and a time will come when they will retire. This will allow them time to plan for their retirement.”
The Health Service Commission was well represented at the conference. Commissioner Maj Gen (Rtd) Dr Gerald Gwinji, Commissioner Angelbert Mbengwa, Commissioner Dr Edward Makondo, Secretary to the Health Service Commission Dr Christopher Pasi and Secretariat staff all graced the occasion, standing in solidarity with health workers past and present whose future well-being is at the heart of these reforms.