Gov’t pledges support for Rwandans over pensions

NEGOTIATIONS:RSSB engages regional states Government has intensified efforts to ensure that Rwandan professionals who worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania receive their pension.

Monday, March 05, 2012
RSSB's Angelique Kantengwa. The New Times / File.

NEGOTIATIONS:RSSB engages regional statesGovernment has intensified efforts to ensure that Rwandan professionals who worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania receive their pension.Rwandan professionals who served in those countries have been complained that they have not received their pensions after they moved back home.It’s estimated that from 1969-1999, Rwandans served in different sectors in the public and private sectors of the affected countries and, that at they made up at least 80 per cent of Burundi’s civil service.  In interview with The New Times, Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) boss, Angelique Kantengwa, confirmed that the negotiations were underway to ensure all nationals obtain their pension by the end of this year."We had a meeting with DRC officials about that issue. We expect to meet again in a few months and we are optimistic that all nationals will get their pensions,” she said.Kantengwa said that those who worked in Burundi in the private sector are already getting their money adding that before this end of this month, those who served in public service will also get their benefits. Initially,  the situation in Burundi posed a challenge since the law prohibits any pensioner residing outside Burundi from accessing their benefits. Over 2000 Rwandans served in Burundi and 5000 worked in DRC.