Staff Reporter
The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has said the issue pertaining to the Dzivarasekwa Housing Project is currently under independent legal investigation, as well as with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and it (NSSA) welcomes inquiries from the media out of respect of its watchdog role for clarification purposes.
This follows last weekend’s online publication of stories by Newshawks and ZimMorning Post titled “Minister entangled in ZWL$400m murky tender” and “ZACC probes NSSA/NBS ZWL$400 million housing scandal” respectively which NSSA said were defamatory to them and National Building Society (NBS) as well as to individuals cited in the stories as corrupt.
The two articles alleged criminal abuse of office by public officers from NSSA and NBS, regarding tender processes on the said project.
NSSA accused the Newhawks and ZimMorning Post for failing to follow basic journalistic principles by according it and NBS the right to respond instead of relying and resorting to information from conflicted parties.
In a Press Statement yesterday, NSSA said, “The issue concerning alleged irregularities in the Dzivarasekwa Housing Project tender was flagged by the Procurement Regulatory Authority (PRAZ) and brought to the attention of NSSA, as the sole shareholder in NBS and the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in his capacity as overseer.
“NSSA communicates with NBS through the society’s board, in the interest of corporate governance. The money ploughed into the Dzivarasekwa and other housing projects such as Newmara in Mutare, are pensioners’ funds hence naturally, the Minister, NSSA and NBS board are anxious that they be judiciously used to grow the fund for the benefit of pensioners,” reads part of the Statement.
NSSA said together with NBS, are keen to resuscitate both projects that have been lying idle for over three years due to squabbles between NBS and contractors resulting in prejudice to pensioners.
“We want to reiterate the fact that NSSA is on transformation journey founded on transparency, honesty and accountability and will brook no favour as it cleans up its act. The new NSSA has zero tolerance to corruption from within or without the Organisation and has taken measures to combat this vice,” said NSSA.
NSSA said it will ensure that any allegations of misuse of pensioners’ funds are fully investigated, and culprit brought to book adding that the days of dragging the name of NSSA into the mud on flimsy grounds are gone and the authority will vigorously defend its name, including instituting criminal proceedings against those who spread malicious and false information.
