A betrayal of service: Communication Allied Indust...

A betrayal of service: Communication Allied Industries Pension Fund pensioners struggle on meagre payouts

Philemon Jambaya

For many Zimbabweans, retirement should be a time of well-deserved rest, a chance to reap the rewards of a lifetime of hard work. But for pensioners of the Communication Allied Industries Pension Fund, formerly Posts and Telecommunications Corporation workers, retirement is a harsh reality of struggle.

CAIPF, a fund entrusted with providing financial security to its members, is failing to deliver on its promises. Pensioners report receiving a paltry US$2.50 monthly, a figure that translates to a mere ZWL$50 000 - a pittance in the face of Zimbabwe's economic woes.

Enock Musengezi, a former PTC employee, speaks for many when he expresses his frustration. “We contributed significantly towards a pension fund with the hope that come retirement we would have a fallback,” he says. Musengezi highlights the historical standing of PTC as a “highly paying company,” making the current situation a stark betrayal of their years of service.

Another pensioner, who wished to remain anonymous, echoes this sentiment. Promises of increases feel hollow in the face of their current hardship. They point out the impermanence of allowances, leaving them with the meagre ZWL$50 000 or US$2.50 as their sole source of income.

The impact goes beyond financial hardship. Pensioners report losing access to funeral cover due to the fund’s supposed lack of resources. This adds another layer of stress to an already difficult situation.

The feeling amongst CAIPF pensioners is one of neglect and abandonment. They are the ones who built the PTC, contributing faithfully to a fund that was supposed to ensure their golden years. Now, they feel betrayed by the very institution that should be protecting them.