By Ellen Hambuba
Government released 14.5 billion kwacha in February to sustain public service delivery and finance social protection and agricultural programmes.
The funds will also be used to meet debt obligations, support government operations and continue infrastructure development across the country.
According to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the funding reflects government’s efforts to maintain budget credibility through the orderly financing of priorities approved in the 2026 National Budget.
Of the total amount released, 4.4 billion kwacha has been allocated to the public service wage bill.
This covers salaries for public service workers, including teachers, health personnel, security wings and overseas allowances for diplomats serving in foreign missions.
Meanwhile, 3.7 billion kwacha has been directed towards debt servicing and the clearing of arrears as part of efforts to restore and maintain debt sustainability.
The ministry explained that 2.9 billion kwacha was used for domestic debt payments, 540.1 million kwacha went towards external debt servicing, while 288.2 million kwacha has been used to reduce domestic arrears owed to suppliers and contractors.
Further, 3.8 billion kwacha has been released for transfers, subsidies and social benefits aimed at supporting vulnerable households and productive sectors.
This includes 2.1 billion kwacha for the Farmer Input Support Programme, 1.4 billion kwacha for the Social Cash Transfer Programme, and 200 million kwacha for the Food Security Pack.
Additionally, 1.9 billion kwacha has been allocated to support the implementation of various government programmes and general operations to ensure the smooth functioning of public institutions and consistent service delivery.
On infrastructure development, the Treasury released 737.1 million kwacha for capital expenditure. Of this amount, 537.8 million kwacha has been directed to road infrastructure projects, while 199.3 million kwacha will support infrastructure development under various government ministries.
Finance and National Planning Minister SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE said the budget releases reflect government’s approach to careful and responsible economic management.
Dr. MUSOKOTWANE said every salary paid to frontline workers, every transfer made to vulnerable households, every allocation to agriculture, every debt obligation honoured and every infrastructure project supported forms part of efforts to improve citizens’ livelihoods.
He said government remains on a disciplined economic path aimed at supporting service delivery, strengthening reforms and promoting inclusive national development.
The Ministry of Finance and National Planning also noted that monthly budget releases form part of the broader annual budget execution process and should not be viewed as a stand-alone measure of government’s full-year policy commitments.
