The government has clarified the extension of the retirement age for uniformed forces and civil servants. Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said this move seeks to leverage their skills and vast experience. It also takes into account the rising life expectancy in Zimbabwe, with middle-aged adults now reaching their 80s on average.
The retirement age for members of the uniformed forces and the three civilian public services has been raised by five years, effective immediately. This change aligns Zimbabwe with international trends seen in countries like China and France. Without such adjustments, pensions would have to be reduced or the working population would have to support more older people due to advancements in technology and medicine.
Minister Ziyambi stated that Cabinet’s decision was based on an evaluation of the current life expectancy, which now averages around 80 years. He emphasized the importance of using experienced personnel to enhance efficiency. “Why waste productivity and experience?
Retirement age extension details for officials
Instead, we must tap into that. We must harness experience to ensure efficiency,” he said.
The retirement age for judges was previously adjusted to 70, with an option to serve until 75 for those who remain mentally and physically fit. Minister Ziyambi addressed concerns about reduced opportunities for younger workers, indicating that the job market would eventually adjust as older workers retire. According to Statutory Instrument 198 of 2024, the retirement age for civil servants has been raised from 65 to 70.
Regular soldiers can now retire at 55, up from 50, with options to extend their service to 60 and even 65. Commissioned officers in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces can now retire at 65, with the possibility to serve until 70. China has initiated a gradual increase in retirement ages for many job categories, and France has raised its state pension age from 62 to 64 in recent reforms.
These changes reflect a global trend in adjusting retirement policies to account for increased life expectancy and the need to maintain experienced personnel in the workforce.
