I found something interesting in IVerify - Assented NAPSA Bill No. 21 of 2022 on early access to benefits only applies to ZNPF members.

Assented NAPSA Bill No. 21 of 2022 on early access to benefits only applies to ZNPF members.

Misleading

According to statements from NAPSA Office of the Director General and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the assented National Pensions Scheme Amendment Bill No. 21 of 2022 by President Hakainde Hichilema on early access to benefits only applies ZNPF members who contributed from 1966 to 2000.

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Verified Dec, 09 2022

Claim

On December 8, 2022, Zambia Reports Facebook page published a post claiming that people above the age of 36 years can claim their NAPSA benefits. This follows the assenting of the National Pension Scheme (Amendment Bill) by President Hakainde Hichilema.

Rating Justification

iVerify Zambia has determined as misleading the claim by Zambia Reports that those above 36 years can claim NAPSA benefits. According to a Press statement from the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) office of the Director General, the new law addresses revision of the minimum age limit for one-off early access to Zambia National Provident Fund benefits from 50 to 36 years. “The revision of the minimum required age limit to access ZNPF benefits enatails that all members who contributed to the ZNPF between 1966 and 2000 and have not made a claim, can now claim their benefits without waiting to reach the age of 50, which was initially required for one to access the benefits,” said the statment.
The new law facilitates for payment of all ZNPF members and closure of ZNPF member accounts. The Minister of Labour and Social Security also clarified that the assented National Pensions Scheme Amendment Bill No. 21 of 2022 by President Hakainde Hichilema on early access to benefits only applies to members who contributed to the now defunct ZNPF and not NAPSA and claimed on social media. iVerify Zambia also contacted the National Pension Scheme help desk who stated that the amended bill only applies to ZNPF members and not NAPSA.

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