HH Names Full Cabinet, Appoints New BOZ Governor
President Hakainde Hichilema has named his first full cabinet of 24 ministers, following his party’s landslide election victory last month.
The announcement sees the scrapping of the Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which were introduced under the previous Patriotic Front government.
Notable appointments include HH’s former defence lawyer and Monze Central MP Jack Mwiimbu as Minister of Home Affairs and former Minister of Finance Felix Mutati as Minister of Science and Technology.
The full announcement follows the selection of economist Situmbeko Musokotwane as Minister of Finance last month. Other top level appointments include Stanley Kakubo as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sylvia T Masebo as Minister of Health. Ambrose Lufuma has been picked as Defence Minister while Paul Chanda Kabuswe has been made Minister of Mines and Minerals.
In a statement from State House, President Hichilema also announced that he was firing Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, to be replaced with former Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Felix Nkulukusa.
The president added that Deputy Bank of Zambia Governor Franics Chipimo would be acting as governor following the resignation of Christopher Mvunga.
The shakeup at the treasury and central bank show the seriousness with which HH is setting out on his program of economic reform. The appointment of Mvunga as governor of the BoZ last August was seen as highly controversial at the time, with critics arguing it undermined the independence of the bank.
The full cabinet list is as follows:
Hon. Peter Chibwe Kapala; Minister of Energy
Hon. Stanley Kakubo; Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Mike Elton Mposha; Minister of Water Development and Sanitation
Hon. Sylvia T Masebo; Minister of Health
Hon. Doreen Mwamba; Minister of Community Development
Hon. Felix Mutati; Minister of Science and Technology
Hon. Frank Tayali; Minister of Transport and Logistics
Hon. Brenda Tambatamba; Minister of Labour and Social Security
Hon. Elijah Muchima; Minister of Lands and Natural Resources
Hon. Ambrose Lufuma; Minister of Defence
Hon. Douglas Syakalima; Minister of Education
Hon. Jack Mwiimbu; Minister of Home Affairs
Hon. Mulambo Haimbe; Minister of Justice
Hon. Charles Milupi; Minister Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development
Hon. Garry Nkombo; Minister of Local Government.
Hon. Rodney Sikumba; Minister of Tourism and Arts.
Hon. Elias Mubanga; Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises.
Hon. Chushi Kasanda; Minister of Information and Media.
Hon. Collins Nzovu; Minister of Green Economy and Environment.
Hon. Makozo Chikote; Minister of Livestock and Fisheries.
Hon. Paul Chanda Kabuswe; Minister of Mines and Minerals.
Hon. Mutolo Phiri; Minister of Agriculture
Hon. Chipoka Mulenga; Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
Hon. Elvis Nkandu; Minister of Youth and Sport.
And the Provincial Ministers are:
Hon. Sheal Shacholi Mulyata; Lusaka
Hon. Elisha Matambo; Copperbelt
Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa; Southern
Hon. Kapelwa Mbangweta; Western Province.
Hon. Henry Sikazwe; Muchinga Province.
Hon. Derrick Chilundika; Luapula.
Hon. Leonard Mbao; Northern Province.
Hon. Peter Phiri; Eastern Province