I am a Zambian man, and I've spent much of my professional life working in development and community programmes. One of the most significant positions I held was Regional Manager for USAID on the Copperbelt, a role that placed me at the centre of development work in the region.
My professional journey began in the early 1980s, after I completed my education. My first job was in an administrative, development-related role, where I gained experience collaborating with communities and organisations. Over the following decades, I built a successful career, moving through a series of positions before eventually rising to Regional Manager for USAID on the Copperbelt.
The work was demanding: it involved programme management, engagement with stakeholders, and frequent travel across the Copperbelt. Even so, contributing to communities was one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
As my responsibilities grew, so did my income. By the later stages of my career, my monthly earnings were significantly higher than in my early working years. I'd estimate my final employment income at around ZMW 25,000 per month, though it varied depending on allowances and other benefits.
Unlike when I was younger, I became increasingly conscious of the need to prepare for retirement. I made a habit of saving regularly, putting part of my income into pension schemes, bank savings, and property. One of my major investments was my family home and farm; I also used my savings to improve the property and support my children's education.
Even with a good income, saving was never simple. Even when you earn well, there are always responsibilities. You have children to educate, relatives to support and unexpected expenses. You have to make saving a priority.
After a long professional career, I retired in 2020. Today, my retirement income comes from a combination of pension benefits and personal investments: an estimated ZMW 15,000 per month in pension, supplemented by around ZMW 3,000 to ZMW 5,000 from investments and other sources, giving me a total monthly income of ZMW 18,000 to ZMW 20,000.
Because of my professional income, savings, and property investments, I'm comfortable compared to many retirees. Even so, the cost of living remains a real concern for me: my household spends ZMW 13,000 to ZMW 15,000 per month on food, electricity, water, transport, healthcare, communication, and other necessities. My income is sufficient to cover my basic cost of living, though I still have to budget carefully for unexpected expenses, particularly healthcare and family obligations.
Retirement has taught me the difference between earning an income and having financial security. During my working years, I could respond to an unexpected expense by working harder or relying on my salary; in retirement, my income is fixed, while expenses can rise suddenly.
I count my professional career, and the contribution I made through development work, as my greatest achievement along with supporting my family's education and building assets that continue to provide security. Looking back, I believe financial preparation should begin much earlier in a person's working life, and my advice to younger Zambians is to save consistently, invest wisely, and avoid depending entirely on a pension.
A pension is important, but you should have something else. Build a house if you can, invest, save, and learn how to manage your money. Retirement can last many years.
My journey shows that a stable career and disciplined financial planning can ease the transition into retirement but it also shows that retirement security depends not only on the size of a pension, but on savings, investments, assets, and the ability to manage rising living costs. For me, the goal of retirement is independence: having enough resources to meet my daily needs, manage unexpected expenses, and avoid becoming financially dependent on my children.