Insights into Zambia's 2026 National Budget: What it means to citizens

What the 2026 Budget Means for Your Household Headline: 📌 “More money in your pocket. More support for families. A tighter economy.” Key Takeaways for Citizens Education & Health: – More teachers, classrooms, medicines and hospital staffing. – Education gets K33bn, Health gets K26.1bn. Cash Transfers: – K7.6bn allocated to Social Cash Transfers. – About 1.5 million households expected to benefit. Farmers: – K9.9bn for FISP (inputs like fertiliser & seed). – New funding for rural water and irrigation. Lower Taxes for Small Earners: – Monthly exempt threshold for small businesses & rental income raised to K2,500. – Meaning if you make under K2,500 a month from these, no tax. Prices & Jobs: – If deficit cuts hold, borrowing pressure drops → lower inflation, stable Kwacha, and better job prospects. What You Should Do ✔ Check if you qualify for SCT or FISP. ✔ Track your income – if below K2,500/month, you can benefit from tax relief. ✔ Plan household budgets expecting more stability in 2026.