Former Supreme Court Deputy Registrar, Chombo, sues govt over alleged K2 million salary arrears

Former Supreme Court Deputy Registrar, Ford Chombo, has petitioned the Constitutional Court, seeking payment of over K2 million in salary arrears dating back to October 1, 2013.

In his petition, Chombo, of Foxdale in Lusaka, named the Attorney General as the respondent.

He stated that he served government in various senior roles, including Professional Magistrate, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Director of Operations at the Industrial Relations Court, and Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, until his retirement in the national interest on March 1, 2013, under the Terms and Conditions of Public Service.

Following his retirement, Chombo said he became entitled to pension benefits under the Public Pension Fund (PPF), having served more than 20 years.

However, despite a 2016 constitutional amendment requiring the Government to promptly pay retirees or retain them on the payroll until full payment, Chombo said the State had failed to do either.

“Government has failed and neglected to fulfil its constitutional obligation, causing me immense economic hardship for more than a decade,” he stated.

Chombo explained that after his removal from the payroll on March 1, 2013, he made several unsuccessful follow-ups with the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) and the PPF.

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His last monthly salary in 2013 was K14,411.96, and he calculated his outstanding salary arrears to have accumulated to K2,147,239 by the time of filing the petition.

He argued that government’s failure to pay his benefits or maintain him on the payroll contravened Article 189(2) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016.

Chombo is seeking a declaration that government’s actions were unconstitutional, an order for the payment of K2,147,239 in salary arrears, interest, reinstatement onto the payroll until full settlement of his benefits, and legal costs.

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