VICE PRESIDENT KABONGO COMMENDS UNION AND MANAGEMENT’S COOPERATION AT THE ZSIC GENERAL INSURANCE SIGNING CEREMONY
Lusaka, 9th July 2025
The Vice President Ms. Marina Mwape Kabongo praised the spirit of dialogue and collaboration that led to the successful conclusion of the 2025/2026 Collective Agreement between ZSIC General Insurance and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW), during a signing ceremony held in Lusaka on Thursday 26th June 2025.
Addressing ZSIC GI management, union executives, and invited guests, the Vice President described the signing as a culmination of a journey defined by persistence, engagement, and a shared commitment to the welfare of our workforce. Present with her was the Union President , Mr. Charles Mukuka who was the Delegation Leader of the Union Team and the Deputy General Secretary Organisation and recruitment Ms. Christabel Mukefuwa Bwalya.
She acknowledged that negotiations leading up to the agreement were lengthy and challenging but emphasized that both parties chose dialogue over division, progress over stalemate, and fairness over expediency resulting from good leadership and resilience on both sides.
A central feature of the agreement is a 10% salary increment for all unionized staff. Kabongo said this increment is more than just numbers on a payslip but symbolizes the recognition for the employees’ hard work, loyalty, and daily contributions to the institution.
In addition to the salary hike, the Vice President announced the introduction of a parallel pension scheme aimed at enhancing financial security and retirement benefits for members. “We understand how vital it is to plan for the future,” she said, describing the scheme as a measure to help employees look ahead with “confidence and peace of mind.”
Kabongo reaffirmed the union’s commitment to being an issue-based organization guided by principle and the genuine needs of its members. She stressed the union’s continued focus on fair wages, decent working conditions, mutual respect, social justice and sustainable institutional growth.
The Vice President extended her gratitude to ZSIC Managing Director and the management team for their eventual willingness to reach a fair settlement. She also lauded the ZUFIAW President and union executives for their steady guidance, strategic leadership, and unity which she credited for the success of the negotiations.
“Let this agreement be more than a document instead let it serve as a renewed foundation of trust and cooperation — a commitment to building a workplace that values dignity, fairness, and shared prosperity.” She Urged.
The ceremony concluded with a call to continue working together with renewed purpose and shared vision.
Join ZUFIAW today www.zufiaw.org/stoporder
