The government has released K450 million to address pension and gratuity concerns affecting lecturers at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU).
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Administration Noriana Muneku says K88 million has been allocated to settle all outstanding pension and gratuity obligations for retirees at CBU while K255 million will be used to settle pension obligations for retirees at UNZA covering the period from 2021 to 2023.
She says a further K137 million has been allocated to clear gratuity obligations for UNZA retirees covering the period from 2015 to 2020.
Ms. Muneku says the government has also increased operational support to public universities through the 2026 National Budget.
She says UNZA has received an additional K90 million in operational funding, while CBU has been allocated an additional K50 million.
The permanent Secretary says the funding is intended to strengthen institutional operations, improve service delivery and enable university management to focus on their core mandate of teaching, research and innovation.
Ms Muneku further says K78 million has so far been allocated to address sanitation challenges at UNZA, describing the investment as critical to improving public health, student welfare and the institution’s dignity.
She says the government’s investments in public universities are substantial, noting that resources committed towards settling historical personnel obligations now exceed K1 billion.
She adds that this is in addition to the K2.1 billion debt restructuring exercise, increased operational grants and continued investments in university infrastructure.
By Mutinta Hamusankwa
