Govt appoints new NSSA board

SAMANTHA MADE

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Edgar Moyo, has appointed a new board for the cash-rich National Social Security Authority (NSSA), with the full concurrence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The board will be chaired by Christopher Dube, the Town Clerk of the City of Bulawayo.

The new board replaces the team previously led by Dr Emmanuel Fundira and comes at a critical time as NSSA faces heightened scrutiny over governance shortcomings, historical allegations of mismanagement, and the alignment of its investment strategy with national priorities.

The other members of the new board include Innocent Chinyama, Chief Executive Officer of Zimnat Asset Management, and Gilbert Takabarasha, Director of Human Resources and Administration at Dairibord Holdings. The labour sector is represented by Florence Taruvinga, President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), David Dzatsunga of the Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZICOSTU), and Ruth Sibanda from the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU).

Also appointed are Josephine Takundwa, Vice President of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC); F. Matongera from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; and Walter Mupandawana, Head of Human Capital Development at the Public Service Commission.

Announcing the appointments in Harare, Moyo emphasised that NSSA’s investment strategy must now align more deliberately with national development goals, particularly agriculture and infrastructure—sectors he described as pivotal to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.

“NSSA should support national priorities like agriculture and infrastructure development. These sectors are critical, considering Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy. Strategic investment in these areas will enhance production, create jobs, and improve the ease of doing business,” said Moyo.

He added that with the concurrence of President Mnangagwa, the new board was deliberately constituted to inject renewed focus, professionalism, and governance discipline into the authority.

“We saw it necessary to give NSSA a fresh start with a fully constituted, capable board to avoid administrative overlaps and drive its mandate more efficiently,” Moyo said.

The Minister charged the incoming board with enhancing governance, strengthening oversight, and steering NSSA towards improved operational efficiency. He expressed satisfaction with early signs of progress under the authority’s new General Manager, who had previously served in an acting capacity.

“Since the appointment of the substantive General Manager, there has been a marked improvement in NSSA’s performance. We now want to consolidate that progress and ensure the institution operates transparently and free from corruption,” said Moyo.

He, however, issued a stern warning against the abuse of NSSA’s resources, making it clear that the authority is not a financial reservoir for soft loans or unproductive handouts.

“NSSA is not a cash cow for cheap loans or advances. Its primary mandate is to safeguard the interests of pensioners and workers through responsible investment that grows the economy,” Moyo said.

The Minister underscored the importance of strict adherence to good corporate governance, pointing to the need for a clear separation of roles between the Ministry and the board, in line with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act.

He said rationalising the conditions of service for both board members and staff, along with streamlining board committees, would be critical to enhancing NSSA’s efficiency.

“The frequency of board meetings, committee structures, and other governance matters are clearly defined under the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. We expect nothing short of full compliance. To support this, we will soon conduct a corporate governance induction workshop for the new board to ensure they fully appreciate their responsibilities,” Moyo added.

A key area of concern, Moyo said, remains NSSA’s outdated information management system, which continues to hamper efficiency, especially in the administration of collections and pension payouts.

“There is a longstanding issue of an ineffective information management system at NSSA. Upgrading to a modern, responsive system that aligns with global best practices is no longer optional—it is urgent,” Moyo stated.

The Minister also stressed the importance of rigorous performance management for both the board and executive management. He warned that decisions related to pension benefit enhancements must be firmly guided by actuarial science and long-term sustainability projections.

“Enhancing pension benefits is a process that must be scientifically informed by actuarial assessments and economic projections. Anything else risks compromising the very security NSSA is mandated to provide,” Moyo said.

The new board assumes office at a defining moment for NSSA, as the authority seeks to rebuild public trust, enhance its investment portfolio, and demonstrate its relevance in driving Zimbabwe’s economic growth.

Moyo’s strong call for NSSA to focus on agriculture and infrastructure investments aligns with President Mnangagwa’s broader vision of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, anchored on production, infrastructure development, and efficient public sector management.