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The government has pledged to maintain continuous and transparent engagement with citizens and stakeholders on the 2026 National Budget and the country’s broader economic reform agenda, beyond the forthcoming national Townhall Meeting scheduled for January 29, 2026.
Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said public engagement would not be limited to a single event but will be sustained through regular communication in the weeks leading up to the Townhall and thereafter on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.
In a statement issued on Sunday, he said the Ministry of Finance and National Planning will consistently share timely, accurate and accessible information on the 2026 Budget, ongoing developmental programmes, progress on economic reforms and the policy choices shaping Zambia’s economic future.
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According to Musokotwane, the approach reflects government’s understanding that public trust and confidence are built through openness, consistency and clarity.
“Citizens, businesses, civil society and cooperating partners deserve to understand not only what decisions are being taken, but why they are being taken, how they connect to national objectives and what they mean in practical terms for households, communities and enterprises,” he said.
The Minister noted that the Townhall Meeting would also mark the formal launch of the revised Public Engagement and Communication Strategy for the period 2025–2030, which was intended to strengthen dialogue, transparency and accountability in public finance management and economic governance.
Musokotwane called on all government agencies and statutory bodies under the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to actively support this communication drive by clearly explaining budgeted programmes and reforms to be implemented in 2026.
He stressed that both ongoing and planned reforms must be communicated proactively and in a coordinated manner, anchored in factual information, to ensure that stakeholders and the general public fully understand Government policies and initiatives.
“Economic reform succeeds when it is understood, when it is owned and when it is seen to be fair,” the Minister said, adding that speaking with one voice across Government will strengthen confidence in public institutions and reinforce national unity.
Musokotwane said Zambia’s prospects were strongest when government and citizens worked together, united by a shared purpose and commitment to national development.
He urged all stakeholders to approach the 2026 Budget season with confidence and responsibility, noting that sustained engagement was key to ensuring that the gains of reform endure and translate into shared prosperity for current and future generations.
The government, he said, remained committed to building a prosperous, resilient and equitable Zambia through inclusive dialogue, disciplined implementation of reforms and active citizen participation.
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