Zambians use 'schemes' differently from us. Perhaps it is like many words where they have learned a more British denotation. There are British words that they use in Zambia while we tend not to use them at all—like 'lorry'. However, during our schooling we may have learned such words and therefore we know what they mean when they say 'lorry'. Such words rarely cause a failure in communication. 'Schemes' however, falls into a different genre—we know what we mean by 'schemes', and we think others mean the same thing! Thus we found it somewhat amusing when Zambians refer to NAPSA (National Pension Scheme)! As we have come to learn about NAPSA, we start to wonder whether our understanding is not, in fact, the correct one! And we certainly found it amusing when our teachers talked about (and worked on) their scheming! Although again, when we observe the goings-on in classrooms, we wonder whether the joke may have been on us! However, let me assure you, when Zambians speak of 'schemes' they mean the same thing as we do when we speak of 'plans'. And, I suppose, they may have nefarious schemes, just as we have diabolical plans.
Retirement in Zambia typically refers to age fifty-five, although at Namwianga many did not choose to retire then. Government workers (most of employed Zambians) were required to retire at age fifty-five. Namwianga workers participated in NAPSA, and were expected to retire then as well. However, the pension schemes being what they were, retirement was not often a golden time. The retirement scheme usually provided for several lump sum payouts. One lump sum would be for unused holidays—which the Zambians hoarded assiduously. The workers never took holidays, even while on holidays! A fact which caused no end of consternation and financial burden on employers. The workers then took pleasure in selling these days back to the employer, while saving some for retirement when they would get paid out. There were strict rules on how holidays were to be taken, and under which conditions holidays could be paid out or accumulated. These rules were carefully ignored. Holiday payouts were one of the absolute bonuses of life for the Zambian worker. A second lump sum was for repatriation—maybe I should get back into discussions of denotation once again! Repatriation to the Zambian worker meant he was being paid a lump sum to reestablish himself into what he might have been doing if his life had not been interrupted by a career! Then a third lump sum was the actual retirement savings plan. Now if all of this sounds like a remarkably generous set of provisions for the workers—they were! Even more so because the holiday payout was totally a cheat! And the repatriation was usually at no cost to the worker—he typically had left nothing to pursue a career, but was reward handsomely to return to the proposed nothingness! As it sounds too good to be true, it also was! Salaries ended promptly in the month of your fifty-fifth birthday, although arrangements were often made for teachers to at least complete the remainder of the term at salary. Holiday payout usually happened first, although it may take some years before all the necessary paper allowed this to be accomplished. Then repatriation could be considered, and careful calculations followed by even more extensive paperwork allowed this to be delayed for years further. Finally, the pension was due. It amounted to many years of gross salary and usually took a gross number of years to begin to be paid. While it was designed to be a lump sum, it usually took the form of 'cents on the dollar' that were doled out from time to time, due to the non-liquidity of both the government and NAPSA (National Pension SCHEME!). As a result, virtually all retirees were looking for a source of income and food to keep body and soul together long enough to make the many trips up and down the road through multitudinous offices and officials (no small number of whom expected a share of your retirement) to collect their retirements. Not surprisingly, few were able to accomplish retirement!
Retirement in Zambia typically refers to age fifty-five, although at Namwianga many did not choose to retire then. Government workers (most of employed Zambians) were required to retire at age fifty-five. Namwianga workers participated in NAPSA, and were expected to retire then as well. However, the pension schemes being what they were, retirement was not often a golden time. The retirement scheme usually provided for several lump sum payouts. One lump sum would be for unused holidays—which the Zambians hoarded assiduously. The workers never took holidays, even while on holidays! A fact which caused no end of consternation and financial burden on employers. The workers then took pleasure in selling these days back to the employer, while saving some for retirement when they would get paid out. There were strict rules on how holidays were to be taken, and under which conditions holidays could be paid out or accumulated. These rules were carefully ignored. Holiday payouts were one of the absolute bonuses of life for the Zambian worker. A second lump sum was for repatriation—maybe I should get back into discussions of denotation once again! Repatriation to the Zambian worker meant he was being paid a lump sum to reestablish himself into what he might have been doing if his life had not been interrupted by a career! Then a third lump sum was the actual retirement savings plan. Now if all of this sounds like a remarkably generous set of provisions for the workers—they were! Even more so because the holiday payout was totally a cheat! And the repatriation was usually at no cost to the worker—he typically had left nothing to pursue a career, but was reward handsomely to return to the proposed nothingness! As it sounds too good to be true, it also was! Salaries ended promptly in the month of your fifty-fifth birthday, although arrangements were often made for teachers to at least complete the remainder of the term at salary. Holiday payout usually happened first, although it may take some years before all the necessary paper allowed this to be accomplished. Then repatriation could be considered, and careful calculations followed by even more extensive paperwork allowed this to be delayed for years further. Finally, the pension was due. It amounted to many years of gross salary and usually took a gross number of years to begin to be paid. While it was designed to be a lump sum, it usually took the form of 'cents on the dollar' that were doled out from time to time, due to the non-liquidity of both the government and NAPSA (National Pension SCHEME!). As a result, virtually all retirees were looking for a source of income and food to keep body and soul together long enough to make the many trips up and down the road through multitudinous offices and officials (no small number of whom expected a share of your retirement) to collect their retirements. Not surprisingly, few were able to accomplish retirement!
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