31 Aug 2022

Upon realisation that some officers retire while ill prepared for life post civil service, the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs organised pre-retirement workshops for employees.

The ministry conducted a three-day workshop that attracted employees from all departments under the ministry and stakeholders from both government and private sector.

Addressing the workshop, the ministry’s human resources and administration manager, Ms Gase Ponoesele, said they were experiencing cases of officers not ready to retire when approaching the compulsory retirement age of 60. “This was reported by different departments during the quarterly ministerial safety and environment committee meeting,” stated Ms Ponoesele.

The workshops, she said, started in 2019, but were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding since they started pre-retirement workshops, the ministry had stopped receiving requests for extension of working years for officers approaching retirement.

The ministry, she said, had an update data base for employees who would be retiring from 2022-2041 noting that funds permitting, the workshop would be held yearly and might, at a later stage, include employees aged 40 or even less.

Ms Ponoesele informed the gathering that retirement was for all, but the difference was that people retired at different stages.

She urged prospective retirees to set their goals and invest to grow their retirement savings. 

She noted that it was important for them to have a plan designed specifically to suit their individual needs, adding that planning in advance could define the path to achieve their preferred life goals without financial dependence.

She however, appreciated that all were part of the institutional memory of the ministry.

She said they had tirelessly contributed to achieving the ministry’s goals and objectives to improve its performance and service to the nation.

“Nothing is more rewarding than looking back at your memories and your contributions to the ministry and the service you rendered to the public while you were still working. You have served the ministry the best that you could and now is our turn to make preparation for your next phase as smooth way and easy transition,” she added.

A motivational speaker from Corroboree Investment Company, Ms Mbene Linderman, drilled participants on transition into retirement life noting that it was important for departments and organisations to conduct training for would-be retirees.

She said retirees should understand that there was life beyond the formal employment. 

Ms Linderman, who is also a retiree, said retirees could do a lot of things to make ends meet adding that retirement was not end of life. 

“People should know that retiring means starting a new chapter in life and as such they should establish their new life vision,” she added.

Some people, she said, developed fear towards retirement age and urged them to change their mindset and lifestyle noting that they should feel confident and excited to have served the nation and now it was their time to enjoy themselves. 

Participants were urged to make choices that would change their lives for the better and optimally contribute to the society.

For their part, participants hailed the ministry for organising the workshop saying it was helpful as they started to realise what radical changes the retirement could usher in. ends