Celebrating 25 Years of Growth, Innovation, and Social Security

Livingstone, Zambia – 19 September 2025 

The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) successfully held its third Stakeholders’ Forum in Livingstone yesterday, bringing together key voices from across the labour sector, business community, government, and civil society under the theme “Celebrating a Quarter Century of Growth, Innovation, and Social Security.”

Held at the Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort, one of NAPSA’s proud investment ventures, the forum coincided with the commemoration of NAPSA’s 25th anniversary since inception in February 2000.

Minister Reaffirms Government Commitment to Pension Reforms

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Honourable Brenda Mwika Tambatamba, MP, graced the occasion and officially opened the forum with a forward-looking address that underscored the importance of inclusive social security reform.

“We must be candid with ourselves,” the Minister stated. “Low coverage, inadequate benefits, fragmented systems, delayed payments, and inconsistent legislation are real issues that still affect the lives of many Zambians.”

She noted that the New Dawn Government is committed to addressing these challenges through a robust pension reform agenda, with support from public pension schemes, employers, trade unions, and development partners.

Highlighting key reforms already undertaken, the Minister cited:

• Penalty Rate Reduction & Waiver Programme, which has benefited over 8,000 employers;

• The Pre-Retirement Partial Withdrawal, which has seen over K10.3 billion disbursed to more than 498,000 members;

• And the payment of ZNPF benefits to over 63,000 eligible Zambians, amounting to K2 billion.

“These interventions are not just about numbers,” she added. “They are about dignity, security, and peace of mind for our workers.”

NAPSA’s Vision for the Future

In his welcoming remarks, NAPSA Director General Mr. Muyangwa Muyangwa expressed gratitude to the forum’s diverse participants and acknowledged the collective efforts that have driven the Authority’s achievements.

“From humble beginnings in 2000, NAPSA now covers over 1.1 million members and 70,000 employers nationwide. We’ve paid out billions in benefits and grown the fund into one of Zambia’s strongest financial institutions,” Mr. Muyangwa noted.

He emphasised NAPSA’s role in national development through strategic investments in infrastructure, mining, energy, housing, and digital innovation, including platforms such as the ICARE system, which allows easier interaction between members, employers, and NAPSA.

Looking ahead, the Director General outlined new voluntary social security products currently in development, including:

• The Diaspora Scheme,

• The Supplementary Scheme, and

• The Zambia Ku Chalo Wealth Fund.

“These products will not only enhance retirement savings but also give Zambians abroad a meaningful opportunity to invest back home,” he said.

Giving highlights of performance for 2024, Chairperson of the NAPSA board of Trustees, Shipango Muteto stated that the fund had grown from K87 billion in 2023 to close at K101 billion by June 2025. He also announced that the fund was targeting to grow to $10 billion by 2031. “This would be achieved through strategic investments in high impact sectors that help create wealth and jobs for the nation,” he said.

Collaborative Path Forward

All the speakers underscored the importance of partnerships in strengthening the country’s social security system. The forum, they said, reflects the shared responsibility between Government, employers, workers, and institutions like NAPSA.

Minister Tambatamba reiterated President Hakainde Hichilema’s support for inclusive dialogue and reform through the Public-Private Partnership Dialogue Forum, a platform designed to foster transparency, trust, and accountability.

“The Ministry remains resolute in creating an enabling environment for workers, employers, and NAPSA to thrive,” she said, adding that social protection is essential to national development and economic resilience.

About the Forum

Now in its third year, the NAPSA Stakeholders’ Forum has become a premier platform for dialogue and policy engagement. This year’s edition brought together trade unions, employers, policymakers, captains of industry, and civil society leaders to reflect on past progress and build consensus on the future of social security in Zambia.

As the event concluded, the call to action was clear: a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative social security system is within reach - but only through continued collaboration and commitment from all stakeholders.