Auditor-General: Finance Ministry collected only K15.5 million of K258.8 million it planned from four revenue sources

The Ministry of Finance and National Planning failed to collect K243.3 million in revenue it expected during the financial year that ended on 31 December 2025, according to the Auditor-General's report. The ministry planned to raise K258.8 million from four sources: interest on loans it gave to institutions, the sale of properties, the Capital Markets Tribunal and debts owed to government. It collected K15.5 million, which is about six percent of the plan. The overall picture looks different. The ministry collected K12.2 billion against a budget of K11.8 billion, which put it K338.6 million above its overall target. The audit shows that a good total can hide weak collection in particular lines, and the K243.3 million gap sits in lines that cover money the government is owed rather than new taxes. ## What the law says The report points to the National Planning and Budgeting Act No. 1 of 2020, which makes controlling officers responsible for the revenue and spending of their institutions. A controlling officer is the permanent secretary or head who answers to Parliament for how a ministry handles public money. The Auditor-General's findings go to Parliament, where the Public Accounts Committee questions officials about them. ## Part of a wider set of findings The finding comes in the same audit report that has already shown other gaps this week: the Ministry of Education paid over K1.2 million to 125 ghost workers, and 393 taxpayers owe the Zambia Revenue Authority K26 million in smart invoicing fines. ## Why it matters Money the government is owed, such as old loans and debts, is money that could pay for medicines, desks and roads without raising anyone's taxes. When it goes uncollected, the Treasury either borrows more or spends less. The audit also gives Parliament a clear number to put to the ministry when the 2027 budget is presented on 6 November. ## What happens next The Public Accounts Committee can summon the Secretary to the Treasury and other offi