30 ex-workers sue govt over benefits
By Esther Chisola
THIRTY Government Complex general workers have sued the State in the Lusaka High Court demanding payment of K25 million in terminal benefits, salary arrears and accrued interest.
Charles Mumba, who has sued on behalf of himself and 29 other former workers, is also praying for damages for breach of contract.
The former workers have cited the Attorney General as the respondent.
They are demanding interest on the judgement sum at the current commercial bank lending rate from the date of redundancy to the date of final payment as costs.
In the statement of claim, Mumba submits that he and the 29 other former general workers were employed by the government for the construction of the Government Complex in Lusaka.
He says he and his colleagues were employed by government through the then ministry of works and supply (now Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development) as general workers in connection with the construction of the building in Kamwala area.
“By letter dated October 25, 2016, signed by then PS [permanent secretary] of the ministry of works and supply, the plaintiffs’ were declared redundant with effect from January 31 ,2017 in accordance with Personnel Division Circular no.B 19 of 1984,” Mumba has submitted.
“The letter of redundancy acknowledged the plaintiffs’ entitlement to the following terminal benefits. Two months basic pay for each completed year of service, repatriation allowance, payment for accrued leave days and NAPSA benefits.”
The letter, he says, further acknowledged that while efforts had been made to absorb all the workers whose employment had been normalised up to December 31, 2015, government was unable to absorb all of them, including the 30 because of limited posts in government ministries and departments.
“The total amount due to the plaintiffs as calculated and acknowledged by the government in subsequent correspondence is K5,065,633,” Mumba submits.
He states that despite the passage of over seven years, government had failed or neglected to pay their terminal benefits.
Mumba submits that the former workers had made several efforts to get their money, including engaging the office of the labour commissioner, which confirmed the government’s obligation to pay, but nothing had been done about their plight.
“By letter dated May 22,2025,the plaintiffs’ through their advocates, wrote to the PS-EMF, Ministry of Finance and National Planning demanding that in light of the prolonged delay in payment,and taking into account accrued interest inflation,and the loss of income,the plaintiffs’ claims the sum of K25,000,000,” Mumba submits.
“Which represents the original amount due [K5,065,633]. As a result of the continued non-payment of the redundancy entitlements, the plaintiff have suffered hardship, deprivation,and emotional distress,” he states.
