Attorney-General sued for K25 million over alleged unpaid terminal benefits to Government Complex workers

The Attorney-General is facing a K25 million lawsuit over unpaid terminal benefits owed to 30 former general workers who were contracted to build the Lusaka Government Complex.

According to court documents filed in the Lusaka High Court, Charles Mumba is suing on behalf of himself and 29 others, all of whom were employed through the then-Ministry of Works and Supply (now the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development) during the complex’s construction.

The plaintiffs were declared redundant in a letter dated October 25, 2016, signed by the then-Permanent Secretary.

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There redundancy took effect on January 31, 2017, under Personnel Division Circular No. B19 of 1984.

The letter acknowledged the workers’ entitlement to terminal benefits including two months’ basic pay for each completed year of service, repatriation allowance, accrued leave, and NAPSA contributions.

While government calculated the total owed at K5,065,633, the workers claim they have not received a single payment in over seven years. They allege multiple efforts were made to recover the funds, including engaging the Labour Commissioner’s office, which confirmed government’s obligation to pay.

In a letter dated May 22, 2025, their lawyers demanded K25 million from the Ministry of Finance, citing accrued interest, inflation, and prolonged financial distress.

“The continued non-payment has left the plaintiffs in severe hardship and emotional distress,” the statement of claim reads.

The lawsuit seeks K25 million in terminal benefits, salary arrears, and accrued interest, along with damages for breach of contract and interest at the current commercial bank lending rate from the redundancy date to final payment.

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