More BP zambia Plc retirees die

THE number of dead BP Zambia Plc now Puma Energy Zambia pensioners has increased to 130 following the death of another two retirees Banabas Kangwa and Simon Mainza in Lusaka and Kabwe respectively.

The two have died without receiving their pension benefits as their proven 20 year old claim is still pending assessment in the Lusaka High Court as ordered by the Supreme Court of Zambia on 10 December 2018.

Mr Banabas Kangwa who worked as a fitter in the pump service department at Lusaka Depot died after a short illness. His death was confirmed by his widow Betty Mwale Kangwa.

Mr Mainza died in Kabwe General Hospital on July 26 2021 after suspected Covid 19 and was buried at his farm in Luanshimba area. His son Sydney Choolwe Mainza confirmed the death of his father yesterday.

The BP Zambia now Puma Energy pension matter involving 235 retirees has been in court since July 2002. The Lusaka High Court passed judgment in favour of the former employees in October 2010 and the judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court of Zambia in February 2014.

The Lusaka High Court ruled that the former employees were entitled to K26.1 million. The company appealed against the High Court assessment while the former employees also cross appealed as they felt that K26.1 million was below their pension claim.

The Supreme Court of Zambia sitting in Ndola on 10 December 2018 heard the appeal and ordered that the matter goes back to assessment and that a qualified Actuary should be appointed to compute the benefits due to the plaintiffs.

The matter is now pending appointment of an Actuary following an appeal by the company against the Actuary who was appointed earlier this year by the Deputy Registrar of the Lusaka High Court.