🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Hichilema proposes expanding govt from 24 to 30 ministries
President Hakainde Hichilema has proposed increasing the number of government ministries from 24 to 30, with several existing portfolios set to be separated under a restructuring plan submitted to Parliament.
The proposal, contained in documents accompanying a motion scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October 2026, would introduce separate ministries for Electricity and Petroleum, Trade and Exports and Industry, Housing and Infrastructure, as well as Skills and Higher Education.
Zambia currently has 24 ministries, according to the government’s published ministerial structure. The proposed changes would increase that number by six, representing a 25 per cent expansion.
Among the most significant changes is the proposed dissolution of the existing Ministry of Energy into two separate portfolios: the Ministry of Electricity and the Ministry of Petroleum.
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry would also be divided, with Trade and Exports operating separately from Industry, while the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development would remain a distinct portfolio.
Similarly, the current Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development would be reorganised into the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development and a separate Ministry of Housing.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources would become the Ministry of Lands, while the existing Ministry of Education would be accompanied by a new Ministry of Skills and Higher Education.
The Ministry of Technology and Science would remain a separate portfolio, while the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Art would be divided into the Ministry of Youth and Sports and a new Ministry of Culture and Arts.
In a statement issued on Monday, State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the President had sought parliamentary approval under Article 92(2)(d) of the Constitution.
“The realignment is intended to ensure that the machinery of Government fully supports the Grow Zambia Agenda, while improving public sector service delivery for the benefit of the Zambian People,” the statement reads.
Hamasaka said Vice-President Mutale Nalumango would move the motion seeking approval for the establishment, merger and dissolution of ministries.
The National Assembly’s order paper confirms that the motion will be presented during Tuesday’s sitting, scheduled to begin at 14:30 hours.
The restructuring follows Hichilema’s return to office for a second term after the August 2026 general election. His administration previously reorganised government ministries in 2021, introducing portfolios including Green Economy and Environment, Technology and Science, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
The latest proposal would require adjustments to the distribution of government functions, staffing and administrative responsibilities across the affected ministries.
Although State House says the changes are intended to improve efficiency, the documents provided do not indicate the additional expenditure that may arise from establishing separate ministries, including administrative operations and staffing.
The proposed structure remains subject to parliamentary approval before implementation.
The People’s Brief | Hora Hanene
26 October 2026