The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research does not want the Pay As You Earn rate reduced in the 2027 budget. Its executive director, Zali Chikuba, told a press briefing on Monday 26 October, reported by News Diggers, that the country needs more revenue to finance the Grow Zambia Agenda, and that a cut would work against that. Chikuba also said the institute expects more progress on TAZAMA open access, which it believes would improve efficiency and transparency in fuel supply, and he declined to treat the Ministry of Finance's two supplementary budgets in one year as evidence of poor planning, saying government sometimes lacks the information to plan ahead.
The Resident Doctors Association of Zambia has a different number in mind. Its president, Paul Chibwe, told News Diggers in an interview on Monday that the health sector should receive at least 15 per cent of the 2027 budget, up from about 13 per cent in 2026, so that more health workers can be recruited and posted to underserved areas. He said he expects an increase, particularly given the health agreement with the United States that is now in place.
A budget without ministers
Citizens First went further and asked for the presentation to be put off. Its spokesperson, Stanley Mhango, said in a statement carried by the Zambian Observer on Tuesday that the party understands the budget was prepared and concluded without input from line ministers, with no hearings, submissions or ministerial ownership in the process. Appointing a full Cabinet days before the presentation, he argued, would not let ministers take part in a process that is already closed, and they would be asked in Parliament to answer for decisions they had no part in making. "A budget without ministerial input raises authenticity concerns," he said, citing Article 116 of the Constitution on collective responsibility. The party acknowledged the budget may still pass, but said public buy-in and ownership of implementation matter.
Parliament's timetable, as reported by News Diggers on Friday 24 October, has the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, presenting the budget on Friday 30 October, with the House sitting from 14:15 until business concludes. The Speaker would then suspend House business for ten working days of sector analysis, resuming on 24 November alongside the Expanded Budget Committee. That timetable was published before Tuesday's approval of 30 ministries and the nomination of two former ministers to Parliament; no report read for this edition confirmed whether the Friday date still stands, and one report of a later date could not be verified.
Who wants what
- ZIPAR — no cut to the PAYE rate; faster TAZAMA open access
- RDAZ — at least 15 per cent of the budget for health, from about 13 per cent
- Citizens First — postpone the presentation until a full Cabinet is appointed
- Timetable — presentation Friday 30 October; House business resumes 24 November (per the 24 October business statement)
Sources: News Diggers, “Don't reduce PAYE in 2027 budget, ZIPAR advises” (27 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “RDAZ pushes for 15% allocation to health in 2027 budget” (27 Oct 2026); The Zambian Observer, “CF calls for postponement of budget presentation” (27 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “Musokotwane to unveil 2027 budget on Oct 30” (24 Oct 2026).