Civil Servants, Salaries, and the Rising Cost of Living: A Zambian Reality Check

 

ZIT-08/02/2026

Today, Zambia finds itself in a painful economic contradiction. Official reports tell us that the Kwacha is gaining strength against major convertible currencies and that the economy is on the mend. Yet, for civil servants—the backbone of our public service—the lived reality tells a far different story.

The recent K700 salary increase for civil servants has been presented as a sign of progress. But in an era of rising meal prices, high fuel costs, expensive transport, and unaffordable rent, K700 barely scratches the surface. For many, it does little to restore purchasing power and even less to improve living standards.

---

Inflation and the Cost of Living

Zambia’s annual inflation stood at 10.9% in late 2025, meaning prices for food, transport, fuel, and basic services have been increasing faster than salaries. Even with the K700 increment, civil servants are earning less in real terms than they were previously. This is not progress—it is an illusion of economic improvement while the majority of workers face daily financial hardship.

Consider this: when maize prices, fuel, and rent rise steadily, a fixed salary increase of K700 is insufficient to cover the gap. It does not restore dignity or financial stability; it merely postpones difficult choices for households already struggling to survive.

---

The Disconnect Between Policy and Reality

The new administration has emphasized a strong Kwacha as evidence of economic progress. Yet, a strong currency is of little comfort to civil servants who cannot afford basic necessities. Salaries that fail to keep pace with inflation undermine motivation, reduce efficiency, and slowly erode the dignity of those who keep the nation running.

As someone who served in the civil service for ten years, I know firsthand the disparity between effort and reward. Civil servants work long hours, yet their income no longer reflects their contribution or the cost of living.

---

Citizens First: What Could Have Been Done

If Citizens First had been in power, we would have approached salary adjustments differently:

1. Substantive Salary Increases

   • Rather than a flat K700 increment, we would have provided at least a 25% increase for lower- and middle-income civil servants, restoring purchasing power and benefiting the most vulnerable workers.

2. Cost-of-Living Relief

   • Subsidies for maize production and public transport

   • Reduction of the fuel levy

   • These measures would lower everyday expenses for Zambians, providing tangible relief.

3. Fiscal Responsibility

   • Instead of sending large delegations abroad in business class and accommodating them in luxury hotels

   • Instead of extravagant allowances for senior officials that surpass their salaries

   • Resources would be redirected to benefit the citizens who actually deliver the nation’s services.

---

Moving Forward: Restoring Confidence

The current administration continues to prioritize optics over substance. Civil servants are expected to be satisfied with a K700 bonus while senior officials enjoy lavish perks. This is unacceptable.

Zambians deserve leadership that understands reality. Civil servants deserve wages that reflect their effort and the true cost of living. Families deserve hope, not empty gestures.

Come August, Citizens First will restore confidence in the nation’s governance, ensuring that economic policies serve people—not just statistics on a page.

“Civil servants and their families should not have to survive on token increments while the economy thrives only in reports. Zambia can and must do better.”