Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema installed 24 ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, with the appointments tied to his administration’s stated 2031 production and infrastructure goals, Anadolu Agency reported.
Ten provincial ministers also took their oaths at the Lusaka event, according to Anadolu Agency. Brenda Tambatamba became the first woman to head Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development after serving as labor and social security minister during Hichilema’s first term, Anadolu reported. Elvis Nkandu took charge of information and media and became chief government spokesman; he had previously led youth, sport and arts, the agency reported. Frank Moyo, who served as Parliament’s second deputy speaker, was appointed agriculture minister, Anadolu reported.
The 24 appointees add to four earlier ministerial selections made two weeks after Hichilema’s Sept. 1 inauguration, Anadolu Agency reported. Six will lead newly created ministries, Anadolu reported, with the portfolios covering Skills and Higher Education, Trade and Exports, Culture and Arts, Industry, Petroleum and Electricity.
Anadolu Agency presented the Grow Zambia Agenda as a priority for Hichilema’s second term. He urged the ministers to pursue 2031 benchmarks: 5 million tourist arrivals, 10 gigawatts of electricity, 10 million tons of grain and 3 million tons of copper, according to the agency. The report said those figures represent four of eight sector targets. Anadolu also pointed to Zambia’s past debt crisis and drought-related electricity shortages as obstacles.
After the ceremony, Hichilema wrote on Facebook that the government had a duty to “deliver equitable development to all our people,” Anadolu Agency reported. He said the ministry changes were meant to make government more effective in serving Zambians, according to the agency. Nkandu told reporters his ministry would increase public outreach about the Grow Zambia Agenda, Anadolu reported.
