The Zambian government has renewed its pledge to overhaul the country's pension system, promising wider coverage, tighter regulation and better retirement income, especially for workers in the informal sector who have been locked out for decades.
Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga made the commitment on October 22, 2026, at the official opening of the Annual Pension Conference in Lusaka, held under the theme of sustainable pension innovation, governance and policy reform,
Recovered from and edited for clarity.
For years, Zambian workers have watched their sweat vanish into a system that pays late, pays little and answers to nobody. The 2016 Constitution, Article 2 of 2016, says plainly that a pension benefit shall be paid promptly and regularly, as reminds us, turning pensions from a favour into an enforceable right. Yet ask any retiree in Chilenje or Kanyama when their money last arrived on time, and you will hear the gap between the law book and the pay slip.
That is why this conference matters. Not for the speeches, but for whether the words finally turn into kwacha in workers' pockets.
Luhanga: a pension is dignity, not charity
Mr Luhanga told delegates that pension reform is essential to protecting workers' contributions, improving benefits and putting pension money to work for Zambia itself, by directing capital into infrastructure, housing and capital markets.
He framed reform as a question of national development: pension funds built from Zambian workers' sweat should build Zambian roads, Zambian homes and Zambian markets, not sit idle or leak abroad.
He also flagged digital technology as a way to cut administration costs and improve access to information, but with a warning that came through clearly: technology must come with strong data management, cybersecurity and protection of members' personal information. After the scandals Zambians have seen with data in other sectors, that caution is welcome.
Ntini demands competence and accountability
Pension and Insurance Authority Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Namakau Ntini called for stronger governance, greater transparency and expanded coverage, stressing that pension systems can no longer rely on traditional approaches as demographic changes pile pressure on retirement planning.
She said competence, accountability, effective risk management and transparent investment decisions are what protect contributors' savings and keep public confidence alive. In plain language: those who manage our money must be answerable to us, the Zambians who earned it.
Collina Halwampa, Chairperson of the Zambia Association of Pension Funds, pushed the industry to embrace innovation, strengthen member engagement and promote policy dialogue so schemes survive changing membership demographics.
A continental voice backs Zambian control of Zambian savings
Oguche Aguda, Programme Manager at the Pan African Fund Managers Association, called for reforms that secure retirement income, promote sustainable contributions and channel pension funds into investments that drive economic growth. He urged administrators and regulators to balance innovation with investment security, and pressed the industry to make pensions make sense to younger workers so they contribute early and consistently.
Here is the sovereign point Zed Nation readers should take home. Pension funds hold some of the largest pools of Zambian capital in existence. Every kwacha parked in a contributor's account is Zambian money, earned by Zambian labour, and it must be invested under Zambian rules with Zambian priorities first. When governance is weak, that money leaks to managers, middlemen and offshore interests. When governance is strong, it builds the nation.
Retirees still caught in political crossfire
The reform pledge lands against a bitter backdrop. Some Zambian retirees have faced accusations of opposition ties in disputes over their benefits, with officials citing Section 39 of the Public Service Pensions Act, which allows a service commission to require an established officer to retire in the national interest at the government's request, as reported. A retiree who spent thirty years serving the state should not have to prove political loyalty to receive what the law already owes them. Zambia's constitution has also evolved through struggle, from the one-party era to multiparty democracy, as documents, and pension rights are part of that unfinished democratic business.
What Zambian workers should watch next
Watch the legislative reforms Mr Luhanga promised. Watch whether informal sector workers, hawkers, farmers, bus drivers, the backbone of our economy, finally get a real door into the system. Watch whether the Pension and Insurance Authority gets the teeth it needs to punish those who gamble with workers' savings.
Zambian workers built this country with their hands and their taxes. The conference in Lusaka has promised them security in old age. The promise has been made before. This time, the people will be counting.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Zambian government promise about pensions in October 2026?
At the 2026 Annual Pension Conference on October 22, Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga reaffirmed government's commitment to pension reform, targeting expanded coverage, stronger oversight and better retirement income, with priority given to informal sector workers.
Why does pension reform matter for informal sector workers?
Many informal workers remain outside formal pension arrangements, meaning they retire with no income after a lifetime of labour. Government has committed to extending coverage to this group.
What did the Pension and Insurance Authority say?
Registrar and CEO Namakau Ntini demanded stronger governance, transparency and expanded coverage, saying competence, accountability and transparent investment decisions are needed to protect contributors' savings and public confidence.
Does the Zambian Constitution protect pension payments?
Yes. Under the 2016 Constitution, a pension benefit shall be paid promptly and regularly, which makes timely payment an enforceable right rather than an administrative favour.