Zambia’s finance minister on Thursday asked lawmakers to approve a 26.3 billion kwacha supplementary budget, citing urgent national needs including food security, wages, and elections.
Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said the extra spending would be financed through additional revenue expected this year and expenditure realignments.
He said the package is designed to steady the economy while addressing pressure points across agriculture, public payrolls and governance.
About 28 percent will go to the agriculture ministry for grain reserves and farmer support to strengthen food security resilience.
Around 29 percent is allocated to loans and investments, including higher-than-planned public sector wage increases and domestic arrears clearance.
Additional funds will support cash transfers for vulnerable households, electoral preparations ahead of August polls, and mining sector oversight.
The government also suspended some fuel taxes for three months, foregoing about 200 million dollars in revenue to ease economic pressure.
Officials say the move aims to cushion households and businesses from external shocks linked to global conflict and inflationary strain.
The supplementary budget highlights Zambia’s attempt to balance fiscal discipline with rising social demands and a tightly contested election season.