K700 salary increment inadequate amid rising living costs
THE recent announcement of a K700 basic salary increment for civil servants exposes the adequacy of public sector pay in a country grappling with a persistent high cost of living. While some union leaders, notably the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), have welcomed the increment, many workers and their representatives view it as insufficient.
The question we must ask is simple. Can K700 meaningfully improve the lives of public servants when the cost of basic survival continues to skyrocket? The answer is emphatically no. Civil servants are the backbone of government operations, yet their remuneration remains painfully low in comparison to the demands of daily life.
According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), the cost of living for an average family of five in Lusaka reached K11, 365.09 in January 2026, up from K11, 327.98 in December 2025. This steady climb is driven largely by escalating prices of essential food items, which constitute the bulk of household expenditure for ordinary Zambians.
When juxtaposed against a K700 increment, the disparity is glaring. The increase covers only a fraction of the additional costs households face each month, leaving civil servants struggling to make ends meet.
It is, therefore, alarming that some union leaders, including ZCTU president Blake Mulala, have justified the increment by pointing to the Kwacha’s appreciation against major foreign currencies. Such reasoning is deeply flawed. Currency gains, while welcome, are fragile and subject to global market swings.
Using a temporary strengthening of the Kwacha to rationalise a meagre wage increase is similar to placing hope in a candle to light an entire city. Workers are not insulated from inflation, and any temporary gains in currency value do not translate into meaningful improvements in their purchasing power, particularly when essentials such as food, transport, and utilities continue to surge.
This dissonance has caused divisions among public service unions. The Civil Service and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ), for instance, had demanded a K2, 800 increment for civil servants, citing the inadequacy of the government’s offer in addressing real needs.
CSAWUZ president Dr Joy Beene emphasised that while the K700 increase may assist workers in meeting daily necessities, it falls far short of what is required to ensure a decent standard of living. These concerns are valid. Incremental raises that do not keep pace with inflation, cost of living, or basic nutrition levels are little more than token gestures.
It is also critical to examine whose interests are truly being represented in these negotiations. While some union leaders appear eager to celebrate any agreement, one must ask whether they are serving workers or merely aligning with government optics.
When salary increases are treated as ‘steps in the right direction’ rather than serious measures to safeguard livelihoods, the very purpose of labour representation is undermined. Public sector workers deserve leaders who are willing to challenge inadequate offers and fight for wages that reflect their contribution to society.
Beyond pay, additional allowances such as transport, meal, and repatriation have been marginally adjusted, but these too are tied to the base salary and do little to offset the harsh realities of daily life. The incremental benefit is dwarfed by the persistent rise in essential costs. Without bold, meaningful action, public servants will continue to be trapped in a cycle where their work is valued in principle but not in practice.
The K700 increment may provide a symbolic nod to wage growth, but symbolism alone cannot fill empty stomachs, pay rent, or cover school fees. The government, unions, and policymakers must recognise that the time for token increases has passed.
Civil servants deserve salaries that not only reflect their contribution to the nation but also preserve their dignity and ability to survive in an increasingly expensive country. Anything less is a disservice to those who keep the machinery of government running.
While negotiations and compromises are part of labour relations, K700 in 2026 is not a compromise, it is an insult to the realities facing public servants. Zambia’s workers deserve more than meagre increments that lag behind inflation and cost of living. It is time to move beyond platitudes a deliver wage adjustments that truly match the economic challenges of our time.
