President Hichilema to Sign Free Education and Pension Reforms into Law Tomorrow

President Hakainde Hichilema will tomorrow, 4 June 2026, sign into law a package of legislation that protects free education and reforms Zambia's pension system, in a ceremony at State House.

The President will assent to five Bills: the Education (Amendment) Bill, the National Pension Scheme Bill, the Public Service Pensions Bill, the Pension Scheme Regulation (Amendment) Bill, and the Local Authorities Superannuation Bill.

Free education has been the flagship policy of the UPND government's first term. Since its introduction in January 2022, 2.6 million children have returned to school, filling classrooms once again. By signing the Education (Amendment) Bill, the government is guaranteeing that future generations will benefit as today's children do, securing the policy for the long term.

The pension reforms will bring immediate benefits to workers and retirees. From tomorrow, the minimum pension will rise from K1,861 to K2,327, with more than 17,000 members currently drawing a pension receiving the increase straight away. Around 30,000 retirees will be able to access an advance lump sum of up to K17,500, while 1.2 million members will see improvements in how their savings grow within NAPSA.

In a statement, Chief Communications Specialist at State House Clayson Hamasaka said the laws represented a defining moment for Zambia, protecting the gains already made for children and workers and guaranteeing them for generations to come. "Let's deliver Zambia's harvest together," he said.