Zambia to spend K253.1 billion in 2026. Who got what? See budget breakdown

Total Budget: K253.1 billion (up from K217.1 billion in 2025)

Financing:

• Domestic revenues: K206.5 billion (81.6% of total budget; 22.3% of GDP)
• Grants from cooperating partners: K12.1 billion (4.8% of budget)
• Domestic and external borrowing: K34.5 billion (3.7% of GDP)
• Read more: Finance minister, Musokotwane, presents Zambia’s record-breaking K253.1 billion budget ahead of 2026 polls

Sectoral Allocations & Key Highlights

• General Public Services – K92.6 billion (36.6%)
• Domestic debt payments: K52.0 billion
• External debt payments: K21.7 billion
• Conduct of general elections: K1.2 billion
• Local Government Equalisation Fund: K1.4 billion
• Compensation Fund (court cases): K810.2 million
• Dismantling arrears to suppliers: K4.7 billion
• Domestic debt servicing has increased due to maturing Treasury bills and bonds issued between 2015–2021.

Economic Affairs – K58.6 billion (23.2%)

Agriculture, fisheries & livestock: K15.5 billion

• Farmer Input Support Programme: K9.2 billion
• Strategic food reserves: K2.1 billion
• Animal health & Zambia Beef Export Project: K764.7 million
• Roads construction/maintenance: K14.5 billion
• Mining-related activities: K1.2 billion
• Geological mapping: K541.5 million
• Artisanal/small-scale mining support: K449.5 million
• Mineral Regulation Commission: K75.9 million

Tourism sector: K1.54 billion

• International arrivals (2024): 2.2 million, up from 1.1 million in 2022
• Domestic visits: 530,110 in 2024, up from 312,195 in 2022
• Hotel occupancy (Livingstone): 70% in 2024, up from 40% pre-2023
• Average length of stay: 5 days, up from 3 days pre-2024

CDF: K6.2 billion (K40 million per constituency, up from K36.1 million)

• Provincial airports development: K1.1 billion
• Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme & empowerment funds: K1.44 billion
• Electricity Fund: K500 million

 Education – K33.0 billion (13.0%)

• Free education programme: K2.4 billion
• School & university infrastructure: K2.3 billion
• Higher Education Loans & Scholarship Board: K1.4 billion
• Revised national education curriculum: K300 million

Health – K26.2 billion (10.3%)

• Drugs & medical supplies: K6.4 billion (30% increase from 2025)
• Essential medical equipment: K953.5 million
• Health infrastructure, including mini-hospitals: K1.7 billion
• Housing & Community Amenities – K3.2 billion
• Safe drinking water access, particularly rural & peri-urban: K1.8 billion
• Public Order & Safety – K9.6 billion
• Law enforcement agencies: K940.7 million (+18%)
• Integrated National Registration Information System: K217.8 million
• Security modernisation & infrastructure improvements

Social Protection – K15.7 billion

• Social Cash Transfer Programme: K7.6 billion
• Pension payments: K4.9 billion
• Food Security Pack: K1.5 billion (up from K1.2 billion)

Other Functions – K14.1 billion

• Defence, Environment, Recreation, Culture & Religion
• Chiefs’ affairs: K200.6 million (+25%)

Economic & Investment Highlights

Mining Sector:

• Copper production: 736,747 tonnes (2023) → 820,676 tonnes (2024) → 1,000,000 tonnes target (2025)
• Artisanal/small-scale copper: 13,300 tonnes (2020) → projected 80,000 tonnes (2025)
• Large-scale mines combined capacity: 593,000 tonnes per year
• New mines (Mwekera, Mingomba, Kitumba) capacity: 700,000 tonnes per year
• First Quantum Minerals S3 Expansion: 270,000 tonnes per year

Manufacturing & Industrial Investments:

• K4 billion invested over 4 years by 20 companies, creating 31,000 jobs
• Total manufacturing investments: over $4 billion
• Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs) & industrial parks: Lusaka South, Jiangxi (Chibombo), Chambishi, Kalumbila, Luano, Chilanga, Kazungula, Monze, Kafue.
• Key sectors: ceramics, steel, starch, milk processing, copper rods, electric cables, conductors, pharmaceuticals, textiles, fertilisers.
• Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles: machinery installed, production soon, supporting farmer outgrowers

Tourism:

• International arrivals (2024): 2.2 million, up from 1.1 million in 2022
• Domestic visits: 530,110 in 2024, up from 312,195 in 2022
• Hotel occupancy (Livingstone): 70% in 2024, up from 40% pre-2023
• Average length of stay: 5 days, up from 3 days pre-2024
• Recovery post-COVID-19 reflected in increased arrivals, occupancy, and length of stay

SME & Citizen Empowerment:

• Over 103,000 individuals and 9,800 MSMEs supported with K2.9 billion
• Citizens Economic Empowerment Fund: 83,000+ beneficiaries
• Zambia Credit Guarantee Scheme: 19,819 SMEs/farmers supported as of August 2025 (up from 18 in 2021)
• Loans facilitated: K1.6 billion (up from K10 million in 2021)
• Statutory Instrument No. 45 of 2025: preference for SMEs in public procurement

Impact Highlights:

• Mining and industrial growth driving economic expansion
• Job creation across manufacturing and industrial sectors
• Tourism revival showing strong domestic and international demand
• Empowerment programs improving livelihoods and education access

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.