Professional Documents
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National Pensions Scheme Authority ACT Zambia
National Pensions Scheme Authority ACT Zambia
40 of 1996 875
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I
PRELIMINARY
Section
1. Short title and commencement
2. Interpretation
PART II
NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME AUTHORITY
PART III
NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME AUTHORITY
PART IV
CONTRIBUTIONS
PART V
BENEFITS
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876 No. 40 of 1996] National Pension Scheme Authority
Section
PART VI
MANAGEMENT OF SCHEME
PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS
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877
Section
53. Regulations
FIRST SCHEDULE
PART I
ADMINISTRATION
1. Composition of Authority
2. Seal of Authority
3. Tenure of office of member
4. Removal of member
5. Filling of casual vacancies
6. Proceedings of Authority
7. Committees of Authority
8. Remunerations and allowances
9. Disclosure of interest
10. Prohibition of publication of, or disclosure of information of
unauthorised persons
PART II
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
SECOND SCHEDULE
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878
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 879
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
-----------------
ACT
No. 40 of 1996
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1. (1) This Act may be cited as the National Pension Scheme Short title
Act, 1996. And
Commencement
(2) This Act shall come into force on such date as the Minister
may, by statutory instrument, appoint.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- Interpretation
“appointed date” means the date appointed by the Minister
under section one;
“Authority” means the National Pension Scheme Authority
established under section three;
“average monthly earnings” means the amount determined under
section nineteen;
“Chairperson” means the Chairperson under paragraph 1 of the
First Schedule;
“contributing employer” means an employer designated by section
twelve as a contributing employer;
“Director General” means the Director General appointed under
section six;
“existing fund” means the Zambia National Provident Fund;
“medical board” means a medical board established under
section thirty seven;
“member” means an employee who is required to contribute
to the Scheme under section eight;
“national average earning” means the amount determined under
section nineteen;
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PART II
NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME AUTHORITY
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 881
PART III
NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME
8. (1) There is hereby constituted a Scheme to be known as the Constitution
National Pension Scheme into which shall be paid all contributions of the
authorised under this Act and out of which shall be met all payments National
authorised to be paid under this Act. Pension
Scheme
(2) The Authority shall be the trustees of the Scheme.
9. (1) The Authority shall pay pension benefits to a member Benefits
who---- under
(a) retires from employment on reaching the retirement age; scheme
(b) retires five years before he reaches pensionable age and
has contributed to the Scheme for a minimum period
prescribed by the Authority; and
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(c) has made contributions for at least twelve months and is
certified by the medical board that he is incapable of
gainful employment due to total or partial mental or
physical incapacity which pension shall be determined
by a formula by an actuarial study and prescribed by the
Minister by statutory instrument.
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(2) The Authority may pay lump sum benefits under such
conditions as the Authority may prescribe.
(3) The Authority shall exchange the lump sum benefits referred
to under subsection (1) in accordance with actuarial advice, in such
circumstances as may be prescribed.
(4) On the death of the member, the Authority shall pay the
pension benefits due to the member in accordance with the provisions
of the Intestate Succession Act and the Wills and Administration of
Act No. 5 of Testate Estate Act.
1989 Act
No. 6 of
1989
Vesting of 10. (1) Without further assurance the existing fund shall be transferred
existing fund to the Scheme and shall vest in the Authority which shall, subject to the
and funds of provisions of the Act, have the sole management and control of it.
the Scheme
(2) The funds of the Scheme shall consist of----
(a) the fund of the existing fund;
(b) the assets of the existing fund;
(c) the combined contributions of contributing employers and
members determined by, statutory instrument, in accordance
with actuarial valuation and paid into the Scheme.
(d) income and capital appreciation derived from the holding of the
the assets of the Scheme in any form ; and
(e) such other moneys or assets as may accrue to the Scheme.
Membership 11. (1) Every person who, before the commencement of this Act, is
of Scheme under pensionable age and is a member of the existing fund,
shall be a member of the Scheme.
(2) Every person who, before the commencement of this Act, is not
a member of the existing fund under subsection (1) and is not less
than sixteen years but who is under pensionable age and is
employed by an contributing employer, shall be registered as a
member of the Scheme as provided for under section thirteen.
(3) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, provide for the
conditions and procedures under which any person who is not
eligible to become a member of the Scheme under this Act, may
become a member.
Contributing 12. Subject to subsection (2) of section eleven, contributing employer
employer shall mean---
(a) a person, association, institution or firm registered as a tax
payer with a contract of service with an employee; and
(b) the Government of the Republic of Zambia, local authority
or parastatal or statutory body.
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 883
13. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, every Registration
contributing employer shall, within one month, register under this of contribut-
section in the prescribed manner, unless such employer is registered ing
under the existing fund. employers
(2) The employees listed in the Second Schedule shall be
exempt from the provisions of this Act and the Minister may, by
statutory order, vary the list of employees in the Second Schedule.
(3) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, prescribe the
minimum number of employees in the service of any employer and
the categories to be exempted under this section.
(4) The period of one month mentioned in subsection (1) shall,
in every case, begin upon the commencement of this Act or the date
when the person concerned becomes a contributing employee.
(5) On the first day of the month following the month in which
the period mentioned in subsection (1) expires, the employee shall
be a contributing employee for the purposes of this Act unless a
further period is specified in the statutory order declaring that other
categories of employers be contributing employers.
(6) Any employer who belongs to a category of employers
exempted under subsection (1) shall with the consent in writing of
the majority of his employees, apply to the Authority in the prescribed
manner, to register under this Act.
(7) The Authority shall notify an employer registered under subsection
(1) that his application has been approved.
(8) An employer registered under subsection (7) shall become a
contributing employer on the first day of the month following the
month in which such employer receives notification that the employer
has been registered under this section.
(9) A religious organisation which desires to make statutory
contributions in respect of any minister of religion or any other
category of employees may apply to the Authority in the prescribed
manner to register under this section.
(10) The Authority shall notify the religious organisation registered
as a contributing employer for the purposes of this Act that the application
has been approved.
(11) A religious organisation registered under subsection (9)
shall notify the Director-General of the prescribed particulars of any
minister of religion or any other category of employees in respect of whom
it wishes to make contributions and shall become an eligible employer on
the first day of the month following the month in which notification is made
under this subsection.
(12) A contributing employer who ceases to be an employer of any
employee shall cease to be a contributing employer in respect of such
employee.
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(13) Any contributing employer who registers or is registered
under the provisions of this section shall, without delay, register, as
a member of the Scheme, every person who is or who subsequently
becomes an employee in his service, by notifying the Director-General
of such particulars of the employee as may be prescribed.
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PART IV
CONTRIBUTIONS
72
a bonafide error, the amount paid in error shall be refunded or
applied to any current liability with the consent of the person
who made the payment.
PART V
BENEFITS
18. Subject to the other provisions of this Act, a retirement
Conditions pension shall be paid to a retired member who has---
for the award (a) attained pensionable age; and
of retirement (b) made not less than one hundred and eighty
pension monthly contributions.
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23. A member shall qualify for invalidity Invalidity
pension if ---- pension
(a) he suffers from permanent invalidity; and
(b) he is under pensionable age and either—
(i) the provisions ofsection eighteen
regarding pension contributions
are satisfied; or
(ii) the member had paid at least sixty
monthly contributions of which
twelve or more were paid in the
period of thirty-six months
immediately preceding the date
the invalidity began.
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32. Survivors pensions shall be paid to— Duration of
(a) a surviving spouse who, at the date of survivors
pensions
death of the deceased member is
forty-five years old or above or is
under the age of forty-five and has the
care for dependant children under the
age of fifteen, for life or until he
remarriage;
(b) a surviving spouse who, at the date of
death of the deceased member, is
under the age of forty-five and does
not have the care of children under
the age of fifteen years, for a period of
two years from the date of death of
the member;
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on the bankruptcy of a beneficiary the benefit shall not pass to
any trustee or other person acting on behalf of creditors.
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 889
PART VI
MANAGEMENT OF SCHEME
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(c) stocks,securities or funds issued by or on
behalf of the Government or in stocks,
securities or funds guaranteed by the
Government;or
(d) such other investment as may be
approved generally or specially, by the
Authority. Application
42. There shall be charged on, and discharged of Funds of
scheme
from, the liquid assets of the Scheme---
(a) the payment of benefits in accordance
with the provisions of this Act;
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Appointment
Of actuary 43. The Authority shall appoint any
actuary who shall be a Fellow of the
Institute of Actuaries of London, the
Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland or
Institute of Actuaries of America or
any other equivalent qualifications to
carry out the duties and exercise the
powers imposed or conferred upon
him under this Act.
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to any recommendations made by the actuary
under section forty-four and, in doing so may,
notwithstanding anything contrary to the
contrary contained in this Act—
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 891
PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS
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(2) Any legal proceedings or application to
any authority pending immediately before the
commencement of this Act by or against the existing
fund in relation to the assets transferred to the
Authority, may be continued by or against the
authority.
(3) After the commencement of this Act,
proceedings in respect of any right or obligations which
was vested in, held, enjoyed incurred or suffered by
the existing fund may be instituted by, or against the
Authority.
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892 No. 40 of 1996 National Pension Scheme
Protection
against 49. Notwithstanding anything contrary contained in any written
attachment law, where any judgement or order has been obtained against
a member, no execution or attachment or process of any
nature shall be issued against his contributions, except in
accordance with the terms of the Authority and such
contributions shall not form part of the assets of the member in
Transfer of the event of bankruptcy.
staff 50. (1) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, approve
arrangements under which all or some of the employees of the
existing fund shall be transferred to the Authority.
(2) Where a person is transferred in accordance with the
arrangements made under subsection (1), his terms and
conditions with the Authority shall be no less favourable than
those enjoyed while employed by the existion fund and for the
purposes of determining his rights to or eligibility for any
pension, gratuity, leave or other benefits, his previous service
with the existing fund shall be treated as service with the
Offences Authority.
and 51. (1) Any person who---
penalties
(a) evades paying for any contribution by him or some other
person and makes any false statement or
representation;
(b) fails to register within the period specified in or under this
Act when required to register;
(c) when required by or under this Act to furnish any
information, without lawful excuse, fails to disclose that
information or furnishes information which is false;
(d) fails to pay to the Scheme within the period specified any
contribution which he is liable to pay under this Act;
(e) obstructs any inspector, officer or servant of the Scheme
in the discharge of his duties;
(f) fails without lawful excuse to produce documents which
he has been required under this Act to produce;
(g) by duress obtains the consent of employees to any
course of action provided for under subsection (6) of
section thirteen;
(h) deducts from a member’s wages any amount by way of
the member’s share which is in excess of the amount
due to be deducted under this Act; or
(i) contravenes any other provision of this Act;
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Shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to
a fine not exceeding one thousand penalty units or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
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National Pension Scheme [No.40 of 1996 893
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Provided that specifications
are prescribed for the circumstances
and manner in which payment of the
whole or any part of the benefit may
instead of being so suspended may
be paid during any such period to any
person nominated by the beneficiary,
or for the maintenance of any
prescribed person who the Director
General is satisfied is a dependent of
the beneficiary;
(d) appointing a person to exercise on behalf
any other person who, is a minor is
unable to act, any power or right
which that other person may be
entitled to exercise under this Act and
to authorise the person so appointed
to receive and deal with any sum
payable by way of benefit to that other
person;
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FIRST SCHEDULE
(Section 3)
ADMINISTRATION
PART I
91
(3) The Chairperson shall be
Minister.
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 895
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(2) The Authority shall meet for the
transaction of business, at least once in every
three months at such places and at such times
as the chairperson may decide.
(3) Upon giving notice of not less than
fourteen days, a meeting of the Authority may
be called by the Chairperson and shall be
called if not less than one third of the
members so request in writing:
Provided that if the urgency of any
particular matter does not permit the giving of
such notice, a special meeting may be called
upon giving a shorter notice.
(4) The quorum at any meeting of the
Authority shall be the Chairperson or the Vice-
Chairperson and three other members.
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7. (1) The Authority may, for the purpose of
Committees performing its functions under this Act,
of Authority establish committees and deligate to any such
committee such of its functions as it thinks fit.
(2) The Authority may appoint as members
of a committee established under subsection
(1), persons who are or are not members of
the Authority and such persons shall hold
office for such period as the Authority may
determine.
(3) Subject to any specific or general
direction of the Authority any committee
established under subsection (1), may
regulate its own procedure.
8. There shall be paid to the members of the
Remunera-
tion and
Authority any committee of the Authority such
allowances remuneration and allowances as the Authority
of members may determine, with the approval of the
Minister.
Disclosure 9. (1) If a member is present at a meeting of
Of interest the Authority or any committee of the Authority
at which any matter is the subject of
consideration and in which matter the
member’s spouse is directly interested in
private capacity the member shall, as soon as
practicable after the commencement of the
meeting, disclose such interest and shall not,
unless the Authority otherwise directs, take
part in any consideration or discussion of, or
vote on, any question touching such matter.
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 897
FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
PART II
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(b) raise by way of loans or otherwise,
such moneys as it may require for the
discharge of its functions; or
(c) charge and collect fees for services
provided by the Authority.
(3) There shall be paid from the funds of the
Authority__
(a) the salaries, allowances and loans of
the staff of the Authority;
(b) such reasonable travelling, transport
and subsistence allowances for
members or members of any
committee of the Authority when
engaged on the business of Authority,
at such rates as the Authority may
determine;
and
(c) any other expenses incurred by the
Authority in the performance of its
functions.
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SECOND SCHEDULE
(Section 10)
PERSONS EXEMPTED FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT
The following persons shall not be required to register as
members of the National Pension Scheme:
(a) an employed person whose monthly earnings are
less than K15,000;
(b) the spouse of the employer;
(c) a member of the family of the employer who
ordinarily resides with the employer;
(d) an employee of an international organisation who
is not a citizen of Zambia;
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National Pension Scheme [No. 40 of 1996 899
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900
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