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SOCIAL PROTECTION EXPERT OPPOSES NAPSA LUMPSUM PAYMENTS

A social protection expert has opposed proposed lump sum payments under NAPSA.

Gideon Sianjalika has noted that paying out lump sums under the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) poses serious risks to the long-term sustainability of social protection programming.

He acknowledges thay while the idea may seem empowering on the surface, its consequences are deeply concerning.

Mr Sianjalika has explained that lump sum may subject people to the risk of destitution and vulnerability as going that route may leave beneficiaries without meaningful investment once they deplete the lumpsum payment.

He has refered to studies in behavioral economics which consistently show that only a small fraction of individuals successfully convert lump sums into sustainable income-generating ventures.

Further,Mr Sianjalika notes that going ahead with such plans would increase burden on government assistance as social safety nets such as the Social Cash Transfer would be overwhelmed when lump sum beneficiaries deplete thier resources, thereby undermining the very purpose of pension schemes and shifts the financial burden back onto the state.

He further notes that the move would undermine the integrity of social protection under NAPSA whose goal is to provide predictable, long-term income security.

He has since supported monthly pension payments which he says helps retirees maintain a basic standard of living and reduce dependency.

"Replacing this with lump sums is akin to "mopping the floor while the tap is still running" a short-term fix that creates long-term problems", he says.

He has since called for preservation of dignity in retirement by avoiding a future where retired workers, once contributors to the economy, are forced to rely on emergency welfare programs.

Mr Sianjalika has further backed monthly disbursements which he observes that they uphold dignity and financial stability as oppsed to lump sum payments which may offer immediate gratification, but compromise the core principles of social protection.

"Let’s safeguard the future by maintaining structured, sustainable monthly pensions", he said

He said those in employment today, should start investing and diversifying now and should not assume that a pension will fund a business, house, or farm saying such would be a "risky move".

Mr Sianjalika notes that a pension is meant to provide security and dignity in retirement and not financing uncertain ventures and therefore calls for "wise investinennt today to retire with peace of mind tomorrow".

Thinking priorities: Men’s hard talk.

By Prof Wilbroad Mutale, MD, MPhil, PhD

As a physician and professor of public health and Christian, I have seen how this combination can be difficulty to reconcile. As a Christian I believe that God heals and protects people from diseases and can raise the dead.
As a physician and medical personnel, I know that God has ordained us to act on his behalf to heal the sick and teach people on how they can live a healthy life and get the best out of the years that God has given them on earth.

Whenever I go to church, as Iam sitting and praying in the pew, I get several patients and concerned relatives, friends, who come up to me asking about medical treatment and advice. In fact if there is a sickness in church, I take this matter very personally to help both financially and medically, but too often I hear the news late and most brethren do not really understand that God has already answered our prays on several issues including providing knowledge about the human body and how we can prevent diseases and how we can act early to prevent pre-mature deaths and improve the quality of life. It is not lack of faith, it is trusting God and what he has already provided and being grateful.

The past few months have proven to me that the Church and several brethren share my view and agree that we, as Christians, can do more to help each other both physically and spiritually.
Let me confine myself to the physical help which is available, but most people neglect it. Let’s talk Men’s health for example, Men die earlier than women and men have an important organ that make them men. Literally all humanity depends on this to propagate, and our quality of our marriages depend on this. The is how God designed it; your physical health is so important to this function. For example, how fit you are, your blood pressure and your sugar levels all affect that essential function.

The confidence that makes a man, is coming from a named hormone (Testosterone) whose levels change with age and general health and well-being. The mental well-being of men, depend heavily on how we feel and perform ( inchito yapa Ng’anda).

It’s therefore shocking that men are so careless about their own bodies! For Christians we don’t even want to discuss these important topics because they are deemed worldly and almost sinful. Our marriages are suffering, and our women can’t complain publicly!
Yet help is available! God has already answered our prayers.
For our women, we also need to normalize health discussions on key issues. In mind I have menopause. I have not heard a preacher or church mention this, yet this is an event every woman will experience and there is help available. But our women don’t know about it!!

Happy to report that at Teledoctor, we have launched a wellness package tailored for Christian couples, churches and young people and taught by your own brethren in the Lord. Reach out to us and let us confer together. It does not need to be this way! We can change the future for the better!

SINGLE SLAP SENDS WOMAN TO THE GRAVE, ASSAILANT ARRESTED - HeyMedia HeyMedia is a digital social network platform dedicated to Zambians to showcase their latest news, culture, lifestyle, classifieds, music and politics. The platform also provides for different services such as news distribution for corporate entities, media and social media management, photography a...