The Teaching Council of Zambia termed the allegations as untrue
On 22nd August, 2025, Facebook users shared a video accompanied with the words “Ba TEACHER balakakwa! Zambian TEACHERS to be JAILED Up to 5 YRS IMPRISONMENT WHO FAIL TO PAY PRACTICE FEES every YEAR, says New UPND LAW: EFF REJECTS TEACHING PROFESSION BILL NO. 14 OF 2025.”
The claim is false. The draft Teaching Professions Bill 2025 does not provide for the arrest of unemployed teachers for failing to pay the licence fee. Only teachers who are actively engaged in teaching without a valid practising certificate are subject to penalties.
The Facebook post alleges that under Draft Amendment Bill No. 14 of the Laws of Zambia, teachers; will face arrest if they do not pay the annual teaching license fee. The captioned words “ Ba Teacher Balakakwa” is a Zambian local term to mean “teachers will be arrested.” The man in the video goes on to explain that teachers both employed and unemployed would face arrest of 5 years for non-payment for yearly licence fees.
The Zambian Parliament is currently debating the Teaching Professions Bill 2025, which seeks to repeal and replace the Teaching Professions Act of 2013. The bill sets out the legal framework for the registration of teachers, the issuance of practising certificates, and the regulation of the teaching profession in Zambia.
A teaching licence is meant to ensure that only qualified and registered teachers are engaged in the education sector. However, confusion has arisen around whether unemployed teachers, who are not actively teaching, are also required to pay the annual practising certificate fee or risk arrest for failing to do so.
The relevant provisions are found in Part III of Draft Bill No. 14 of 2025, titled “Registration of Teachers and Issuance of Practicing Certificate. “Section 9 (1): A person shall not be employed or practice as a teacher unless the person is registered as a teacher in accordance with this act. “This means that the requirement applies only to those actively teaching, not to unemployed teachers. Section 17 (1–3): “A person shall not practice as a teacher without a valid practising certificate issued to that person by the Council under this Act. (2) A person shall not offer employment to a person as a teacher who does not hold a valid practising certificate issued under this Act.” (3) Further establishes administrative and disciplinary action for those teaching illegally. Which states that, “A person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both.”
These clauses require every registered teacher who intends to practice to apply for a practicing certificate and to renew it annually. Again, this is tied to active practice, not unemployment status, and not for simply not paying the license fee. It makes reference to those actively teaching.
For teachers not teaching, section 2(1) provides that “A teacher who does not intend to practice teaching for a specified period of time shall notify the Council, in writing, of the teacher’s intention. (2) The Council may, where a teacher notifies the Council in accordance with subsection (1), maintain the name of the teacher on the register in a nonpracticing category for the period of time specified by the teacher.” This means that teachers not employed are still officially recognized by the Council and are exempt from paying the practising certificate fee or facing penalties, as long as they notify the Council and are in the non-practising category.
Mzeziti Mwanza contacted the Teaching Council of Zambia for a comment. In response, the Registrar, Ebby Mubanga, clarified that the bill proposes the yearly licence fee will apply only to employed teachers.
The law is designed to regulate the teaching profession and ensure that only qualified, registered, and licensed individuals are engaged in the classroom. Spreading misinformation about the bill risks creating unnecessary fear among teachers and undermines informed debate about important legislation. This can also have serious consequences for both the public and the democratic process. When people are misled, they may form premature opposition or support for a law they do not fully understand, creating confusion and unnecessary tension. This not only undermines meaningful public debate but also pressures lawmakers to respond to misinformation instead of addressing the real issues in the bill. Over time, such distortions weaken trust in Parliament and erode confidence in democratic institutions, as citizens begin to believe laws are being made based on false narratives rather than facts.
The claim circulating on Facebook that unemployed teachers will be arrested for failing to pay the annual teaching licence fee is false.
This fact-check was produced by Mzeziti Mwanza as part of the African Fact-checking Alliance incubation programme. It was produced with peer mentorship from Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, PesaCheck, with financial support from Norway. AFCA mentorship respects the journalistic independence of the researchers, offering access to advanced techniques and tools.