Patriotic Front presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has described the K700 salary increment for civil servants as a mockery, arguing that the adjustment fails to address the rising cost of living and does little to improve the welfare of public workers.
Mundubile says the increase does not reflect the economic realities facing civil servants, particularly as prices of food, transport, housing, and other essentials continue to rise. He maintains that the wage adjustment is inadequate and disconnected from the daily pressures faced by workers who rely on public sector incomes.
According to Mundubile, civil servants are struggling to meet basic needs despite government claims of economic improvement. He argues that salary adjustments should meaningfully cushion workers rather than offer what he describes as symbolic relief. In his view, the increment does not match the pace at which household expenses have increased, leaving many workers financially constrained.
The criticism adds to growing political debate around wages and living costs, an issue that has become increasingly prominent as Zambia approaches the 2026 general elections. Public sector workers form a significant portion of the electorate, and salary policy has emerged as a key point of contention between government and opposition figures.
Government, however, has defended the K700 increment, arguing that the adjustment reflects fiscal discipline and affordability rather than neglect of workers’ needs. Youth and Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu says the salary increase should be understood within the broader framework of government’s wage policy since taking office.
Nkandu states that the increment represents about a 10 percent increase for civil servants earning around K7,000 and a higher percentage for those on lower pay scales. He argues that government has consistently adjusted wages since 2022, with previous increments ranging between 10 and 12 percent, despite economic constraints inherited from previous administrations.
The Minister maintains that wage increases must be balanced against national revenue performance, debt obligations, and the need to preserve macroeconomic stability. He cautions that unsustainable salary hikes could undermine economic recovery efforts and place pressure on public finances.
Nkandu further dismisses opposition criticism as politically motivated, stating that salary adjustments should not be used as campaign tools. He argues thaat responsible governance requires gradual and manageable improvements in wages rather than sudden increases that could destabilise the economy.
The divergent views reflect a broader tension between macroeconomic indicators and lived economic experience. While government has highlighted stabilisation measures, currency performance, and fiscal reforms as signs of recovery, many workers judge progress based on purchasing power and daily expenses.
Economists note that salary increments in the public sector carry implications beyond individual incomes, affecting government expenditure, inflationary pressures, and private sector wage expectations. As a result, wage policy often becomes a balancing act between social welfare and economic management.
As the debate continues, the K700 salary increment has become more than a technical adjustment, emerging instead as a symbol of competing narratives on economic recovery, affordability, and leadership credibility. With elections approaching, how government and opposition frame the issue is likely to shape public perception of economic performance and policy priorities.
Is the increment good enough, No
Is the increment able to go far, No
Is the incremental able to make a difference, Yes
It is not what you think or expect, but what the Monterey and Fiscal policies can allow. Mind you, this not political economics but general.
The k700 was not imposed but was agreed upon by the unions and the government after negotiations.
So why do people like this newspaper trying to create controversies.
Unlike in the days of PF workers are being paid on time and they are getting a salary increase.
For those saying K700 increment is not enough, have they increased the salaries of their maids? Ba Mundubile how much do you pay your house keepers.
What has house keepers got to do with it ?
The concern is a very bloated GRZ Grossly over employed
Does anyone honestly believe it was done without the coming election in mind
Realality will only return post elections
You have now opened your chi big head. Did I not warn you about voting based on tribe.
Mundubile and Kalaba are just playing politics. Under the circumstances, no government, whether current or incoming can give more than K700.
Also note, that though good to employ a lot of teachers and nurses in the civil service, development of a country does not come through such a route, real development of a country comes through industrialisation and manufacturing which the UPND has lamentably failed.
You are a pwazi you chi upnd cadre
elections around the corner
700 kwacha you people? Even my dog which i called HH eats food more than 700 kwacha a month. So hh is telling you that my dog is more important than zambian people. We warned you about voting these crooks in. August ni neewww!!
Reckless, thoughtless speech. You’re an empty brain
You have no money for a bigger increment but you have enough money to increase constituencies, thereby increasing number of MPs each one getting a VX, allowances, salary, gratuity in the millions, a fully funded constituency office, free lodging, free food, free alcohol at parliament motel every single day. Jokers.