HH Appoints Gift Sialubalo as New Minister of Local Government

President Hichilema swore in his new appointee for the position of Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Monday.

The new minister, Sinazongwe MP Gift Sialubalo, is now responsible for overseeing grassroots development and serving as the vital bridge between the central government and provincial communities. Crucially, the ministry is tasked with supervising the implementation of Constituency Development Funds (CDF), and thus plays an indispensable role in facilitating national development.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, President Hichilema said that “it is imperative that the Ministry proactively tackles obstacles to the efficient delivery of essential services”. To this end, he has identified two domains in which he expects Mr Sialubalo to make immediate progress.

Firstly, the President identified the urgent need for improvements to waste management and sanitation infrastructure, thus the ministry is expected to lead efforts to reform garbage collections and upgrade sewer networks. Secondly, now that the rainy season is drawing to a close, the ministry will begin the process of grading feeder roads in rural areas. It is vital to ensure that Zambia remains well-connected, and maintaining these roads guards against the isolation of rural communities. If necessary, the ministry has earth-moving equipment purchased by the government with CDF funds at its disposal to repair any roads damaged by the heavy rain.

Speaking to ZNBC news after the ceremony, Mr Sialubalo summarised his ambitions for his new role, highlighting the importance of making sure that all Zambians see the real-life benefits of CDF investment: “it is really important that we drive in the agenda of the President, of trying to give resources that trickle down to the lowest organ of society”.