UNZALARU DEMANDS FULL BENEFITS
Union wants Government to release more funds and follow the High Court order in paying UNZA workers
Lusaka, Zambia24 — 12-08-2026 -- The University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers’ Union (UNZALARU) has demanded the release of additional funds to clear outstanding terminal benefits owed to UNZA workers, saying members have waited for years to receive their money.
UNZALARU President Prof. Andrew Phiri and General Secretary Dominic Liche said Government had committed to clearing all terminal benefits owed to UNZA staff up to 2025 by July 31, 2026.
Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche said Government released K358 million as the first disbursement towards benefits that have remained outstanding since 2016, and payments have since started.
However, the union leaders said concerns had emerged over how the payments are being made.
According to Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche, the payment instructions appear to conflict with a recent High Court judgment directing the University to use the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) principle when settling terminal benefits.
The UNZALARU leaders said they were not aware of any formal Government instruction directing UNZA management to comply with the court judgment.
Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche warned that any departure from the court directive could undermine the rule of law and affect workers who are waiting for their benefits to be paid according to the established order.
The union also said Government had not released additional funds by July 31 to enable the University to clear all outstanding terminal benefits owed up to 2025.
The two officials said the delay had left the Government commitment unfulfilled despite the initial K358 million allocation.
UNZALARU has also raised concern over conflicting information about the purpose of the K358 million.
Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche said the Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Education had stated that the money was released to settle outstanding pension and gratuity obligations, while the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) had reportedly claimed that the funds were part of student fees owed to UNZA.
The union leaders said the two obligations are separate and called for the conflicting accounts to be resolved urgently.
UNZALARU further said HELSB continues to owe UNZA substantial amounts in outstanding fees for Government-sponsored students.
At a General Meeting held on August 7, UNZALARU members demanded that Government ensure the remaining funds already released are paid strictly according to the FIFO principle ordered by the High Court.
The members also called for the immediate release of additional funds to clear all outstanding terminal benefits owed up to 2025.
Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche further called on HELSB to settle all outstanding student fee arrears owed to UNZA from 2025 to date and ensure that future sponsorship funds are paid on time.
The UNZALARU leaders also want HELSB to clarify its reported position that funds released for terminal benefits constitute payment towards its student fee obligations to the University.
Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche said UNZALARU had remained patient throughout the process and welcomed Government’s initial intervention.
However, the union stressed that the Government commitment must be fully honoured without further delay because members have waited for many years to receive what is owed to them.
The UNZALARU leaders also said the union remains strictly non-partisan and has no interest in forming alliances with either the ruling or opposition political parties.
According to Prof. Phiri and Mr Liche, UNZALARU’s responsibility is to represent, protect and advance the welfare and legitimate interests of its members while engaging whichever Government is in power on matters affecting workers.
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