The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) is Zambia's mandatory social security system for formal sector employees. Every month, both you and your employer contribute 5% of your gross salary towards your retirement pension. Use our NAPSA calculator to see your exact deduction.
What is NAPSA?
NAPSA was established under the National Pension Scheme Act No. 40 of 1996. It replaced the old Zambia National Provident Fund (ZNPF), moving from a provident fund model to a defined-benefit pension scheme - though members can still commute up to 50% of their pension as a lump sum at retirement. Under Section 11, every employee aged 18 and under pensionable age who is employed by a contributing employer must be a member.
The 5% contribution rate
Both the employee and the employer contribute 5% of gross monthly earnings each. This means a total of 10% goes into your NAPSA account every month - half from your pay slip, half from your employer's pocket.
Employee share: 5% deducted from gross salary
Employer share: 5% paid on top (does not reduce your pay)
Total monthly contribution: 10% of gross salary
Payment: Employer remits both shares at the end of each month (Section 14 and 15)
Late payment penalty: Under Section 15(2), if contributions are not paid on time, a penalty of 20% of the unpaid amount is added for each month or part thereof that the payment is late. The 2022 amendment (Act 20 of 2022) added Section 15(3), giving NAPSA discretion to waive penalties under conditions set by the Minister.
The ceiling: K1,861.80 per month
NAPSA contributions are capped at K1,861.80 per month for each party (employee and employer). This ceiling kicks in when your gross monthly salary reaches K37,236 - because 5% of K37,236 equals exactly K1,861.80. Any earnings above this threshold do not attract additional NAPSA deductions.
Worked example: below the ceiling
Suppose your gross monthly salary is K10,000:
Employee contribution: K10,000 x 5% = K500
Employer contribution: K10,000 x 5% = K500
Total monthly into your account: K1,000
Worked example: above the ceiling
Now suppose your gross monthly salary is K50,000:
Uncapped 5% would be: K50,000 x 5% = K2,500
Actual employee contribution (capped): K1,861.80
Monthly saving vs uncapped: K2,500 - K1,861.80 = K638.20
The ceiling saves high earners a significant amount each month while still ensuring meaningful contributions towards retirement.
What benefits does NAPSA provide?
NAPSA offers several benefit categories:
Retirement pension (Section 18) - monthly income from age 60, requires at least 180 monthly contributions (15 years)
Lump sum (Section 21) - if you reach 60 but have fewer than 180 contributions
Early retirement (Section 22) - available within 5 years of pensionable age with 180+ contributions
Invalidity pension (Section 23) - if you become permanently unable to work, with at least 60 contributions
Survivor's pension (Section 29) - paid to spouse and dependants if a member dies
Funeral grant (Section 34) - lump sum paid to next of kin if the member had at least 12 contributions in the last 36 months
The minimum monthly pension is 20% of the national average earnings (Section 19(4)). Benefits are reviewed annually and adjusted in line with national average earnings (Section 35). Importantly, benefits are inalienable - they cannot be seized by creditors or attached in bankruptcy (Sections 38 and 49).
How to check your NAPSA balance
You can verify your contribution history through several channels:
Online: visit the e-services portal on napsa.co.zm
In person: visit any NAPSA branch with your NRC
By phone: call NAPSA's toll-free line
From your employer: request an annual contribution statement
What if your employer does not pay?
Under Section 16, if your employer deducts NAPSA from your salary but fails to remit it, NAPSA will treat the contributions as paid for the purposes of your benefit claims. NAPSA will then pursue the employer separately to recover the debt.
Section 51 makes it a criminal offence to evade contributions, fail to register, or make false statements. Employers can face fines or imprisonment. Contributing employers must register within one month of engaging an employee (Section 13(1)).
Read more about the NAPSA contribution ceiling for 2026 or calculate your NHIMA deductions alongside NAPSA.