Third Eye Africa Managing Consultant Emmanuel Zvada with other officials poses with in Eswatini recently
By Dickson Bandera
EZULWINI, Eswatini– African organisations have been urged to rethink their approach to employee retirement, with global human resources expert and Third Eye Africa Managing Consultant Emmanuel Zvada calling for greater investment in preparing workers for life beyond formal employment.
Zvada made the call while addressing delegates at the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) Eswatini Annual Conference held at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini, where he challenged employers to move beyond traditional retirement practices that largely focus on farewell ceremonies and terminal benefits.
He argued that retirement preparation should be treated as a long-term human capital responsibility, rather than an administrative exercise undertaken when an employee is about to leave the organisation.
“Preparing someone for retirement should begin long before their final working day,” Zvada said, stressing the need for employees to receive adequate psychological, financial and strategic support as they approach the next chapter of their lives.
Drawing from his experience in human capital development and his book, 7 Golden Rules of Retirement Planning, Zvada cautioned against relying solely on pension benefits to maintain financial stability after leaving employment.
He said retirement represents a significant life transition that requires deliberate planning, just like career development and professional advancement.
His presentation comes amid growing conversations in Eswatini about pension adequacy, voluntary savings and the sustainability of retirement security systems.
Concerns have been raised in financial and social security discussions that many workers could face financial difficulties in retirement if they do not develop stronger savings habits and explore additional sources of income during their working years.
Zvada’s message also challenged corporate leaders to broaden their understanding of employee welfare by recognising that an organisation’s responsibility towards its workforce should extend beyond the period of active employment.
He urged companies to adopt structured retirement preparation programmes that equip employees with the knowledge and confidence to navigate life after work.
The HR expert’s central message was that retirement should not be viewed as the end of an employee’s productive life, but as a new phase that requires preparation, financial discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
His address reinforced the growing need for African workplaces to make retirement readiness an integral part of human resource management.
