Ziyambi Justifies Age Hike, Cites Life Expectancy
The Zimbabwean government has extended the retirement age for uniformed forces and civil servants to harness their skills and vast experience, Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi announced yesterday in Harare.
The new policy, effective immediately, raises the retirement age by five years for members of the uniformed forces and the three civilian public services. Minister Ziyambi explained that the decision aligns with rising life expectancy in the country, where middle-aged adults now average lifespans of up to 80 years.
“This move ensures we utilize the productivity and experience of seasoned personnel,” said Minister Ziyambi. “We must harness this experience to enhance efficiency across sectors. For example, judges capable of serving on the bench were allowed to continue their work to bolster justice delivery.”
Zimbabwe joins global trends in increasing retirement ages, following countries like China and France. China is gradually raising retirement ages across several sectors, while France recently increased its state pension age from 62 to 64. Without such adjustments, Ziyambi argued, pension systems would face strain, requiring reductions in payouts or heavier burdens on the working population.
Under Statutory Instrument 198 of 2024, the retirement age for civil servants rises from 65 to 70. Regular soldiers now retire at 55, up from 50, with options to extend their service to 60 and 65. Commissioned officers in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces can retire at 65 but may serve until 70 if fit.
Concerns about limited opportunities for younger workers were addressed, with Ziyambi asserting that the job market would naturally adjust over time as older employees eventually leave the workforce.
The adjustment also reflects efforts to modernize work expectations in an era where many jobs no longer require intense physical labor, and medical advancements enable longer, healthier lives.
“Raising the retirement age allows us to align with international best practices and ensure continued service delivery from experienced professionals,” Ziyambi added.
This policy follows earlier changes for the judiciary, where judges can now serve until 70, with an option to extend to 75 if mentally and physically fit.
