The social security needs of burial society members in Mpopoma Zimbabwe

Abstract

The Zimbabwean social security sector effectively only covers those in formal employment and their dependants. Over the years a deteriorating economy has led to a decline in the number of people formally employed and therefore covered by formal social security schemes. This has resulted in the informally employed seeking protection in informal systems such as burial societies. This study was carried out to establish the social security needs of burial society members in Mpopoma in Zimbabwe to establish whether there was any scope for these schemes to extend coverage for a wider range of contingencies (or social risks such as death, illness etc.). The research followed a qualitative approach with the use of the constructivist or interpretivist paradigm. Most of the data was collected through the use of semi structured interviews and a thematic approach was use to analyse the data. The research established that respondents prioritised health, children’s needs, income security for people in active employment and old age respectively as their priority social security needs. They also had a need for housing and food security. Whilst people were willing to be part of formal social security systems and contribute to them, they did not want the burial society to be transitioned into anything bigger than the provision of bereavement-related benefits. This means that policy makers have to be innovative in creating systems that extend social security to the disadvantaged rather than building on limited private arrangements.