From 24 to Thirty Ministries: The Executive Restructuring Behind the Grow Zambia Agenda
Wed, July 28 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration has proposed a major structural overhaul to expand Zambia’s cabinet from 24 to 30 ministries, presented to the National Assembly by Vice-President Dr. W.K. Mutale-Nalumango pursuant to Article 92(2)(d) of the Constitution of Zambia. According to official communications from State House, the restructuring is designed to eliminate administrative bottlenecks, enhance public service delivery, and align government operations directly with the country’s flagship economic blueprint, the Grow Zambia Agenda. The proposed changes unbundle large existing ministries into dedicated portfolios, which includes splitting Energy into separate ministries for Electricity and Petroleum; dividing Commerce, Trade and Industry into Trade and Exports, Industry, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development; separating basic education from Skills and Higher Education; and uncoupling Infrastructure and Urban Development from Housing. Proponents maintain that this heightened specialization is necessary to provide focused oversight over critical growth drivers, such as resolving power generation deficits, boosting non-traditional exports, accelerating industrialization, and meeting national production benchmarks.