Debonairs ‘offloads’ 300 workers at 11 outlets
By Thandizo Banda
ABOUT 300 workers have been left stranded after 11 Debonairs Pizza outlets in Lusaka reportedly shut down without notice, employees and sources have told The Mast.
The closures hit stores at major upmarket shopping malls namely East Park, Manda Hill, Waterfalls, Lewanika, Cosmopolitan and Keg at Waterfalls Mall.
The shutdowns happened on April 29.
Speaking in separate interviews with The Mast on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, the affected workers said they only received 75 per cent of their February 2026 salaries.
They said no retrenchment packages or payment plans were given to them.
“The stores reportedly shut down without any notice, leaving about 300 employees instantly out of work. Staff were only paid 75 per cent of their February salaries, and no retrenchment packages were provided,” a source said.
Other workers said the franchise owner closed operations and returned to South Africa, leaving them without full payments.
The matter is now before the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Employees want government to compel the franchisee to pay outstanding wages, saying Debonairs operated under contract with the franchise holder.
“There’s need for a stronger government oversight in how franchise licences are issued. Priority should be given to accountable and committed investors,” one worker said.
The workers raised concern that Debonairs continued to award licences to South Africans instead of empowering local investors.
Some former members of staff have worked for Debonairs for over six years. Workers said this is the second time Debonairs franchises had shut down abruptly in Zambia. Six outlets were previously closed.
Debonairs management had not responded to a press query by press time.
Ministry of Labour principal public relations manager Mwaka Ndawa said government was actively engaging Debonairs managers in South Africa to resolve the plight of the over 300 affected Zambian workers who were abruptly left jobless.
“Government has contacted Debonairs managers in SA who had already left the country at the time the report was made,” Ndawa said.
Ndawa promised to share a comprehensive statement on the matter in due course.
