Navigating Poverty in Later Life: The Impact of Shrinking Pensions and Inadequate Social Security on the Well-being of the Elderly in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Economic instability, ineffective governmental oversight, and bureaucratic inefficiencies have been some of the reasons contributing to a deterioration in Zimbabwean pensioners’ living standards. In understanding the risks associated with the diminishing value of pensions and how post-retirement aspirations and caring commitments are still being met, our study was interested in Zimbabwean pensioners’ experiences with the protection framework. In problematizing the social value of pensions, the subjective well-being of pensioners, and the challenges faced by surviving spouses in accessing benefits (the intersection of human rights and social justice within the context of pension systems in Zimbabwe), in-depth and semi-structured interviews were used. These interviews were conducted with pension beneficiaries and government bureaucrats from three Zimbabwean provinces. In addition to the interviews, we also consulted a total of 18 reports from the media, government, relevant commissions, and other agencies (published between 2015 and 2023). Besides the challenges posed by a volatile socio-economic environment—marked by exchange rate distortions, liquidity problems, and political interference with pensions—our findings indicate that some of the factors exacerbating old age poverty in the country include (i) an inadequate implementation of the 2012 Older Person Act and (ii) misalignment between the national pension scheme (NPS) and broader social protection programs. In enhancing pensioners’ prospects of dignity in retirement, the paper advocates for a re-evaluation of pension systems, emphasizing the need for improved bureaucratic accountability and the protection of pensioners from market forces. This study holds particular importance in its examination of pensioners’ experiences in accessing protection and contributes to the discourse on social protection, social justice, human rights, and social work.