Government releases K200 Million to Clear Pension Backlog for Retired Public Workers

The government has released 200 million kwacha to clear pension arrears for retired public service workers who have faced lengthy delays in receiving their benefits.

The announcement came as Local Government Minister Gift Sialubalo launched a new three-year strategic plan for the Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (LASF) in Lusaka.

The fund manages pensions for workers employed by local councils across the nation.

"Pensions are not a privilege; they are a right earned through years of dedicated service," Mr Sialubalo told an audience that included current workers and pensioners. "They must be administered with fairness, urgency, and compassion."

The minister acknowledged that pension delays had caused significant hardship for retirees and their families, often leaving them unable to meet basic needs.

The 200 million kwacha disbursement forms part of 400 million kwacha allocated to LASF this year. Since 2017, the government has provided 1.6 billion kwacha in total support to the pension fund.

The newly launched 2024-2026 strategic plan aims to reduce waiting times for pension payouts, improve accountability, and modernise fund operations. It also proposes reviewing the LASF Act to make the system more responsive to workers' needs.

Many pensioners at the launch expressed cautious optimism, saying they hoped the reforms would translate into tangible improvements at the grassroots level.

Mr Sialubalo called on local authorities, fund managers and workers' representatives to support the implementation of reforms.

"This is about restoring trust and dignity," he said. "Every worker should retire knowing their service to the nation will be honoured."