Parliament Approves K253.1 Billion 2026 National Budget

Parliament has passed the K253.1 billion 2026 National Budget, bringing to a close the budget approval process for the coming financial year and clearing the way for implementation of government spending plans aimed at stabilising the economy and sustaining development momentum.

The approval followed debate in the National Assembly in Lusaka, where Members of Parliament considered the budget presented by Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane. The House adopted the budget after voting, confirming Parliament’s consent to the government’s proposed expenditure framework for 2026.

Presenting the budget earlier, Mr Musokotwane told lawmakers that the 2026 spending plan was designed to consolidate economic gains achieved under the New Dawn administration while addressing persistent structural challenges. He stated that the budget prioritised macroeconomic stability, debt management, social protection, and investment in key productive sectors.

According to highlights outlined during the debate, the 2026 budget places emphasis on education, health, infrastructure development, and enhanced Constituency Development Fund allocations. The government indicated that increased resources would be directed toward service delivery at local level, with the aim of improving livelihoods and supporting inclusive growth.

During the sitting at which the budget was approved, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti presided over proceedings as Members of Parliament from both sides of the House contributed to the debate. Lawmakers raised issues relating to fiscal discipline, debt sustainability, revenue mobilisation, and the effectiveness of public expenditure.

Supporters of the budget argued that the proposed allocations reflected the government’s commitment to economic recovery and long-term development. They maintained that continued investment in education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure would help create jobs, strengthen human capital, and improve living standards.

Several Members of Parliament also welcomed the emphasis on social protection programmes, noting that vulnerable households continued to face pressure from the cost of living. They said targeted interventions were necessary to cushion citizens while broader economic reforms take effect.

On the other hand, some lawmakers expressed reservations about the budget, raising concerns over revenue projections and the capacity of institutions to implement planned programmes efficiently. Questions were also raised about borrowing levels and the need to ensure that public funds are utilised prudently.

In responding to issues raised during the debate, the Minister of Finance and National Planning assured Parliament that the government remained committed to fiscal discipline and transparency. He said the budget had been crafted within a framework that sought to balance expenditure needs with realistic revenue expectations, while continuing engagement with creditors and cooperating partners.

The approval of the 2026 National Budget comes at a time when Zambia is seeking to strengthen economic stability following years of fiscal strain. The government has stated that prudent budget execution, combined with structural reforms, is expected to support growth and rebuild confidence in the economy.

Following Parliament’s approval, the budget will be operationalised at the start of the 2026 financial year, with ministries, provinces, and other spending agencies expected to align their programmes with the allocations approved by the House. Oversight committees of Parliament are also expected to monitor implementation to ensure accountability and value for money.

The passage of the budget marks a key milestone in the legislative calendar and provides the financial framework within which government policies and programmes will be implemented in 2026. As the focus shifts from approval to execution, attention is likely to centre on whether the planned spending translates into tangible improvements in public services and economic outcomes.

Makebi Zulu Says Passage of Bill 7 Defies Constitutional Court

Lawyer and civil rights activist Makebi Zulu has strongly criticised the parliamentary decision that advanced Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7 of 2025, describing the move as a direct challenge to constitutionalism and the authority of the judiciary in Zambia.

In a statement issued following Parliament’s decision to take Bill 7 into Second Reading, Zulu said the action amounted to open defiance of what he described as clear pronouncements by the Constitutional Court. He stated that when Parliament proceeds as though decisions of the country’s highest court do not matter, it weakens the foundations of the constitutional order.

“The passing of Bill No. 7, in open defiance of the clear pronouncements of the Constitutional Court, is a grave affront to constitutionalism and the rule of law in Zambia,” Zulu said. “When Parliament proceeds as though the highest court in the land does not matter, it sends a chilling message that legal limits on power are optional, not binding.”

Zulu argued that Members of Parliament had departed from their constitutional obligations by prioritising political considerations over their oath of office. He said those elected to defend the Constitution had instead chosen what he characterised as political convenience and partisan instruction.

“Those who swore an oath to defend the Constitution have instead chosen political convenience over principle, power over prudence, and partisan instructions over their duty to the Republic,” he said.

He questioned the conduct of lawmakers during the process, asking where representatives were who were prepared to oppose the Bill even at personal political cost. He suggested that integrity should outweigh electoral considerations when constitutional principles are at stake.

Zulu also criticised the conduct of the Speaker of the National Assembly, referring to what he described as a celebratory display following the vote. He said such conduct undermined the expected neutrality and professionalism of the presiding officer.

“The disgraceful display of a dance by Madam Speaker in celebration of what is open defiance of the judiciary is nothing short of lawlessness, immaturity and a first in the Commonwealth to show the leaning of a presiding officer,” Zulu said, adding that the conduct was “quiet unprofessional.”

Looking ahead, Zulu framed the development as the beginning of a broader civic response. He said the advancement of Bill 7 marked a new phase in the struggle for democracy and respect for the rule of law, urging citizens to organise and speak out.

“The struggle for democracy and respect for the rule of law begins in earnest today,” he said.

Zulu called on citizens to prepare to hold leaders accountable through democratic means, specifically pointing to the next general elections scheduled for August 2026. He urged Zambians to respond peacefully and within the framework of democratic participation.

“Citizens must now organise, speak out, and prepare to hold their leaders accountable in August 2026, when the people will have the opportunity to pass their own verdict at the ballot box,” Zulu said.

Bill 7 has now moved into the Second Reading stage of Parliament, where the principle of the proposed constitutional amendments is under consideration. The Bill is expected to proceed to Committee Stage for clause by clause scrutiny before returning to the House for Third Reading, which will again require the support of not less than two thirds of all Members of Parliament to advance further.

The National Assembly has voted to take the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill 7 of 2025 into Second Reading, marking the point at which Parliament begins formal consideration of the principle of the proposed constitutional changes.

The vote recorded 131 Members of Parliament in favour, two against, with no abstentions. The outcome means Bill 7 has successfully entered the Second Reading stage, where the House assesses whether it agrees with the overall purpose and direction of the Bill before proceeding to detailed examination.

Under Zambia’s constitutional framework, Second Reading is a decisive stage for any Bill, and it carries heightened importance for constitutional amendment legislation. Unlike ordinary Bills, which require only a simple majority of Members present and voting, a Bill seeking to amend the Constitution must obtain the support of not less than two thirds of all Members of Parliament at Second Reading for Bill 7.

The National Assembly currently has a total membership of 164 Members. On this basis, the minimum number of votes required for a constitutional amendment Bill to pass Second Reading is 110. The recorded vote of 131 therefore met and exceeded the constitutional threshold required for the Bill to proceed.

The numerical composition of Parliament at the time the Bill entered Second Reading consists of 97 Members from the United Party for National Development, 55 Members from the Patriotic Front, 10 Independent Members, and one Member each from the National Party for Unity and Progress and the National Congress Party. The recorded vote reflects that the two thirds requirement was achieved within this parliamentary configuration.

At Second Reading, Parliament does not debate the Bill clause by clause. Instead, Members consider whether the Bill should be accepted in principle. If a constitutional amendment Bill fails to secure the required two thirds support at this stage, it falls and does not advance further in the legislative process. Such failure may occur if the number of Members voting in favour is below the constitutional minimum, or if absences and abstentions reduce the affirmative vote below the required threshold. Because the calculation is based on the total membership of the House, abstentions have the same practical effect as votes against.

With Bill 7 now properly before the House at Second Reading, the next step in the process is progression to the Committee Stage, provided the Second Reading debate is concluded and the House carries the motion. At Committee Stage, Members will consider the Bill in detail, clause by clause, and may propose amendments to specific provisions.

Following Committee Stage, the Bill will be reported back to the House and, if carried forward, presented for Third Reading. At Third Reading, the Constitution again requires support from not less than two thirds of all Members of Parliament for the Bill to pass. Only after clearing Third Reading can the Bill be submitted to the President for assent.

The movement of Bill 7 into Second Reading therefore marks a critical procedural milestone. While the Bill has advanced within Parliament, it remains subject to further debate, voting thresholds, and constitutional steps before it can become law.