State House denies hiking wages by 360 percent

State House has quashed reports claiming that its wage bill in the 2025/2026 has increased by 360 percent, saying this is untrue.

On Monday, Nation Publications Limited carried a story titled ‘State residences wages up 360%’. In the story, the paper alleged that wage bill in the State Residences vote in the proposed 2024/25 National Budget has increased from K3.3 billion in the fiscal plan ending March 31 to K12 billion, a 300 percent hike within a year.

“The initial wage bill in this closing financial year was revised during Mid-Year Budget review from K3.3 billion to K6.8 billion and now has increased to the K12 billion in the proposed budget.

“Budget documents show that allocations to personal allowances in cash and kind have followed suit from K3.2 billion to K5 billion over the year as the State Residences vote is expected to close the books at K32 billion in the 2023/24 financial year. In the proposed budget, it has swelled to K44 billion,” article reads in part.

But in reaction State House Press Officer Anthony Kasunda quashed the report.