The 38th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) came and went, but not before crowning the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) the overall winner in the Social Security Scheme and Insurance category.
Winning in a competition that involves over 30 contestants wasn't easy, nor was it impossible for NSSF. The fund had to demonstrate its capability and eligibility for the award against other social security and health insurance funds, some of which have been operating for a long time.
"Judges scrutinised the participants stage by stage until they satisfied themselves that NSSF deserved victory and declared our scores in the two categories," said Acting Chief Executive Officer, Cresentius Magori.
Mr Magori noted that it was a job well done by the individual staff that earned them such honour and recognition. "My staff deserve commendation for their impressive teamwork during preparations up to the award stage," he said.
On the whole, the social security fund has been performing well since its inception, and has earned recognition at home and abroad. In May, this year, it was awarded the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification by the British Standards Institute (BSI) after a nomination in February.
This was after an audit conducted in January, which showed that NSSF had complied with ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System (QMS).
The QMS helps NSSF to improve performance and demonstrate high levels of service delivery. It also shows that NSSF follows internationally recognised quality management principles. ISO international standards ensure that products and services are safe and reliable and are of good quality.
In that case, they are strategic instruments that reduce costs by minimising waste and errors and increasing productivity. By implementing ISO 9001:2008 standards, NSSF has committed itself to ongoing improvement of QMS and processes and meeting customer expectations.
This is what has made NSSF emerge the overall winner during the just ended DITF organised by the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE). NSSF was established by the Act of Parliament No 28 of 1997 to replace the then National Provident Fund (NPF) established by Act No 36 of 1964.
The management style is based on business value and focused on customers to know what they need and how to meet their expectations. "NSSF has been one of the nation's dependable schemes for taking care of individual welfare and national interests," Magori noted.
Zanzibar's Second Vice President, Ambassador Seif Ali Idi congratulated NSSF for outstanding performance. Ambassador Iddi was the guest of honour at this year's DITF.
Recently, NSSF introduced new products, which include 'Madini' and 'Wakulima' schemes geared towards promoting small scale miners and farmers by issuing loans through Saccos and affiliated national firms in order to support economic growth.
This takes into account the fact that smallholder farmers constitute the majority of the population. If they would be given appropriate assistance, they would be able to improve production, and this is a healthy development in the national economy.
NSSF is also running projects of national interest including Dege Echo Village, which focuses on construction of modern houses at Kigamboni in Dar es Salaam.
The fund has also introduced a welfare scheme for Tanzanians in the Diaspora (WESTADI). All citizens living abroad (including students) and four dependants selected by the insured person (diaspora) are entitled to social health insurance benefits in Tanzania.
Investment Officer Mwadawa Al Asibawi who was one of the busiest staff at the NSSF pavilion during the 38 DITF attended to show-goers wishing to know how they could secure a house or a plot.
She told them that 300 NSSF houses at Mtoni-Kijichi were ready for sale at a price ranging from 75m/- to 132/-, depending on the size and type of a house and that a loan was payable in 15 years.
According to Asibawi, these are houses built in two phases. A total of 85 houses were built in phase I and 215 houses were built in phase II.
There are 450 surveyed NSSF plots covering 180 hectares in Kiluvya, Kisarawe District, Coast Region. They are categorised as low density, medium density and high density. Successful customers are issued with title deeds after fulfilling all requirements. NSSF pavilion has attracted many visitors, and judges saw for themselves what NSSF had done in terms of service delivery.
Ms Mwadawa impressed not only visitors, but also the way she arranged her desk ready for giving information step after step from stage one to the last stage.
Since 2011 to date, NSSF has issued loans worth Sh34 billion to various customers through 112 Saccos from which 95 of them have started repaying.
A total of Sh29 billion has been so far repaid. A total of 17 Saccos will get their loans worth Sh4.5 billion at any time from now.
TANTRADE Director General, Jacqueline Mneney Maleko said this year's DITF focused on a national culture and art products to look for both local and international markets.
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