By Thane Musariri
ZANU-PF continues to show ignorance and lack of enthusiasm in addressing issues of national importance. This is another analysis of what came out of the parliament when opposition MP Hon. Mutsa Murombedzi, Member of Parliament for Mashonaland West, in a parliament session (held on
Wednesday, 13th March, 2024) passionately addressed the ongoing struggles faced by pensioners in Zimbabwe. She shed light on the dire situation faced by countless elderly citizens who are grappling with paltry pensions and inadequate access to healthcare.
“The pensioners are being tossed from one Ministry to the other,” remarked Honourable Murombedzi, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles that pensioners encounter when seeking assistance. The MP expressed frustration over the lack of concrete action from the government despite promises made by officials. She emphasized that many pensioners live with chronic diseases & rely on daily medication but have yet to receive meaningful support from relevant ministries.
“It is now a month down the line since we asked about the welfare of pensioners in this house and nothing has been done to correct the anomaly,” Honourable Murombedzi lamented, echoing the sentiments of numerous pensioners who are struggling to make ends meet. She was referring to a parliament session on the 14th of February where she asked the minister what the government was doing to improve the livelihoods of pensioners. The inadequate pensions provided to elderly citizens have left them living in poverty, unable to afford essential medication and basic necessities.
The MP called upon the minister to provide tangible solutions that would enable pensioners to live dignified lives. “Minister should tell us tangible things so that the money that they are getting as pensioners will be able to sustain them and buy drugs for them,” urged Honourable Murombedzi, demanding concrete measures to alleviate the plight of pensioners.
However, the response from Hon. J. Moyo, Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare, fell short of expectations. “A tangible response requires a tangible question,” retorted Moyo, deflecting the concerns raised by the MP. Despite being pressed for substantive action, Moyo failed to provide reassurance or concrete plans to address the pressing issues faced by pensioners.
The exchange in Parliament stresses the urgent need for decisive action to improve the lives of pensioners in Zimbabwe. As the government faces mounting pressure to fulfil its duty of care to elderly citizens, the plight of pensioners remains a critical issue that demands immediate attention and meaningful solutions.
Below is Hon. Mutsa Murombedzi’ s presentation and question:
HON. MUROMBEDZI:
Thank you Madam Speaker. The pensioners are being tossed from one Ministry to the other. This question was asked on 13th February. The pension for pensioners needs to be looked into but the Minister said they were going to look into it. It is now a month down the line and nothing has been done to correct the anomaly. We have pensioners who require medication on a daily basis but they have not received any concrete response from the relevant ministries. They are living in poverty because the pensions that they are getting are meager and insufficient. Ministers should tell us tangible things so that the money that they are getting as pensioners will be able to sustain them and buy drugs for them.
She was interjected by ZANU-PF MPs who did not want her to continue with the pensions issue, until the speaker restored order and asked her only to ask the question.
HON. MUROMBEDZI:
What tangible measures have the Ministers done to alleviate the plight of our pensioners so that they can buy drugs and live better livelihoods? I thank you.
HON. J. MOYO:
Thank you Madam Speaker. I would like to thank the Hon. Member. A tangible response requires a tangible question. I had been asked what Government policy is and that was the tangible response that I have given. If you have got a tangible question so that I can give a concrete statement, I will be happy if you do that.
Read full documents by clicking links below
NATIONAL-ASSEMBLY-HANSARD-14-FEBRUARY-2024-VOL-50-NO-29
NATIONAL-ASSEMBLY-HANSARD-13-MARCH-2024-VOL-50-NO-35
