farmers and small scale miners can now access social security #tanzania

Only six per cent of Tanzania's 22.4 million able bodied
people are covered under any of the social security
schemes in the country, a dismal percentage in comparison
to the number of people in the country who earn a living
whether formally or informally.
The fact remains that a lot more can still be done and
should be done in this sector. With the setting up of the
Social Security Regulation Authority (SSRA), in a rather
liberalised environment, it is expected that the various
schemes branch out to the informal sector and encourage
more people to be members and not rely solely on
employees in the formal sector.
The Authority registers all Managers, custodian and
schemes while regulating and supervising performance.
By issuing guidelines for the efficient and effective
operations of the Social Security sector, the Authority
protects and safeguards the interests of members and
creates a conducive environment for the promotion and
development of the social security sector in the country.
In a bid to widen its membership, NSSF has introduced two
schemes dubbed 'Kilimo' and 'Madini' schemes. NSSF,
which emerged the overall winner at this year's exhibition in
the pension and insurance category, sticking to its vision of
being a leading provider of social security services in Africa
by 2020, NSSF's Director of Operations, Mr Crescentius
Magori noted the schemes aim at ensuring that more people
from various walks of life despite their socioeconomic
status are covered.
Mr Magori said small scale miners are constrained by
multiple challenges-- including injuries at the work place,
lack of capital for purchasing equipment--critical factors
which hamper their operations. In view of this, he believes
that the schemes will reach out to and artisanal miners and
farmers and will greatly improve their lives.
"These two schemes will allow more people who are not
covered by any social security scheme and programmes
like these are sustainable and do not discriminate," he
stated. In May this year at the opening the fourth NSSF
stakeholders' meeting in Arusha, President Jakaya Kikwete
said the number of Tanzanians covered by the six social
security funds is unsatisfactory.
The president directed all social security schemes to start
expand membership by reaching out to the private sector,
especially agriculture and mining. "We are committed to
providing services that meet members' specified legal
requirements making NSSF the leading provider of Social
Security Services in Africa.