WHAT IS BALLY REALLY UPTO?
By Prof. Edgar Ng’oma Distinguished Good Governance Fellow & Philosopher.
Thursday 29th October 2026
Without fear or Favour.
As a Distinguished Good Governance Fellow, Philosopher and Political Consultant, I would be failing in my duty to the citizens of Zambia if I did not objectively analyse what Bally is doing.
I am duty-bound to provide a self critique analysis. In the spirit of good governance and intellectual honesty, we must ask: What would the critics of Bally be saying about this transformation? And what would be Bally’s response to his critics?
This analysis seeks to unpack the real intent behind the Grow Zambia Agenda and the new 30-Ministry Cabinet structure – beyond the headlines and political rhetoric.
*1. FROM STABILISATION TO GROWTH – The Second Term Shift*
His first 5 years (2021-2026) was about fixing a broken economy: debt restructuring, bringing inflation from 24% to 6.1%, $1.36bn Eurobond buyback, restoring reserves.
Now he is shifting from *Stabilisation to Growth*. His new mantra to Cabinet yesterday was: _”Delivery should be our mantra. Not to report for work. To deliver.”_
The Grow Zambia Agenda is his business plan to *more than double the economy by 2031* with an extra $65bn annual output.
The famous code: *10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1*
– *10* million tonnes maize
– *10,000* MW electricity
– *5* million tourists
– *3* million tonnes copper
– *3* million tonnes soya beans
– *1* million tonnes wheat
– *1* million tonnes sugar
– *$1bn* beef exports.
This is export-led wealth creation, not just politics.
*2. WHY SPLIT MINISTRIES? THE STRATEGIC FIT THEORY*
State House says: _”This is not bigger government for its own sake. It rebuilds the machinery of Government around the Grow Zambia Agenda”_
In business strategy this is called *STRATEGIC FIT* – your structure must match your strategy. You cannot run a $65bn growth plan with a small, overloaded structure.
Look at the surgical splits approved by Parliament on 27 Oct (24 to 30 ministries):
*a) Energy -> Electricity + Petroleum*
The 2024 drought gave us 17-hour load-shedding and cut growth in half. Bally says 10,000MW by 2031 is a full-time job, fuel supply is a different industry altogether. Peter Kapala (Electricity) and Makozo Chikote (Petroleum) now have single mandates.
*b) Commerce, Trade & Industry -> Trade & Exports + Industry + SME*
This is brilliant. Industrialisation is about _producing_, Trade & Exports is about _selling_ to regional and world markets. One makes, the other sells. For years we made but failed to sell.
*c) Education -> Education + Skills & Higher Education + Technology & Science*
He is separating basic literacy from productive skills. Hon. Douglas Syakalima will focus purely on skills for the 10,000MW, 3 million tonnes copper economy. No more theory graduates without jobs.
*d) Youth, Sport & Arts -> Youth & Sports + Culture & Arts*
Tourism target is 5 million visitors. You can’t hit 5 million with Arts hidden under Sports. Princess Kasune moves to Tourism, Christopher Chibuye to Culture & Arts – monetizing our culture.
*3. WHAT IS BALLY TRYING TO ACHIEVE? THE POSITIVE IMPACT*
*i) Focused Accountability:* Instead of one Minister drowning in Energy, Trade, Industry, Education – now 6 Ministers each own one number in the 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1. If we fail to hit 10,000MW, we know who to hold.
*ii) Blend of Technocrats + Old Guard:* As Bally has correctly said – new technocrats like Dr Caroline Katotobwe (Trade & Exports), Olive Chiboola (Livestock), Brenda Tambatamba moved from Labour to Mines for her negotiation skills. This is competence over loyalty.
*iii) Jobs and Money in Pockets:* Cabinet has shifted from austerity to _”higher and resilient economic growth and job creation”_. Every split ministry is a job creation engine – beef exports needs livestock, tourism needs culture, electricity needs investment.
*BOTTOM LINE:*
Bally means business because he has realized – you cannot grow Zambia with the old, bloated, unfocused government machinery. He is turning Zambia into a holding company with 30 CEOs, each with a production target. This is the first time Zambia has a Government structured like a private sector business plan.
So far well done Mr. President – this is serious business indeed. We wish you all the best but now listen to what some of your Critics may have to say.
Now let me counter critique Bally Vs His Critics without malice, fear or favor. Objective deep critique analysis.
*THE CRITICS vs BALLY – THE DEBATE ON THE NEW 30-MINISTRY GOVERNMENT*
*CRITICISM 1: “30 Ministries is Bloated Government – Wastage of Taxpayers Money”*
*What Critics Say:*
– Opposition and some economists will say HH condemned PF for 21 ministries, now he has 30.
– More Ministers = more salaries, more Permanent Secretaries, more Toyota VX, more offices, more foreign trips.
– At a time Zambians are suffering with high cost of living, you expand government? This is against austerity and IMF advice.
– This is job creation for politicians, not for Zambians.
*BALLY’S REBUTTAL:*
“We are not expanding for consumption, we are expanding for production. You cannot manage a $21 billion investment drive and double a $30 billion economy with a skeleton staff. Would you tell Dangote to run a cement factory with one manager to save costs? The cost of one Ministry is nothing compared to the cost of failing to deliver 10,000MW, failing to hit 3 million tonnes of copper, failing to bring 5 million tourists. That failure costs Zambia billions. I would rather pay for focus than pay for failure.”
*CRITICISM 2: “Same Faces, Different Chairs – No Real Change”*
*What Critics Say:*
– Look at the list: Jack Mwiimbu from Home Affairs to Justice, Princess Kasune from Justice to Tourism, Peter Kapala and Makozo Chikote both ran Energy before, Collins Nzovu still there, Elvis Nkandu still there. About half of the Cabinet held positions in the first term. Where is the fresh blood? This is recycling, not renewal.
*BALLY’S REBUTTAL:*
“Grow Zambia is not about faces, it’s about focus and experience. Would you put a new pilot to fly a plane in a storm? Some of these Ministers have institutional memory. I am not bringing them back for loyalty, I am bringing them back to deliver a specific number. And look carefully – Dr Caroline Katotobwe in Trade & Exports, Olive Chiboola in Livestock, Dr Roma Chilengi in Health, Gilbert Siame in Green Economy. Those are technocrats, not politicians. I have blended experience with expertise. Delivery needs both.”
*CRITICISM 3: “Splitting Ministries Creates Confusion and Turf Wars”*
*What Critics Say:*
– Now Electricity and Petroleum will fight over policy. Trade & Exports and Industry will fight over who owns manufacturing. Youth & Sports and Culture & Arts will fight over budget. You have created 6 more silos, more bureaucracy, more delays. Investors will be confused – where do I go for an energy license now?
*BALLY’S REBUTTAL:*
“That is why I told them yesterday – deliver, don’t delay. No more ‘the file is with the other Ministry’. The law clearly defines mandates. In fact, the old structure was the confusing one. Under old Energy, one Minister had to think about load-shedding in Lusaka and diesel supply in Nakonde at the same time. That is why nothing moved. Now each has ONE job. And my Office and Cabinet Office will coordinate. Strategic fit requires coordination, not confusion.”
*CRITICISM 4: “Grow Zambia Numbers Are Fantasy – 10 Million Tonnes Maize, 10,000MW, 3 Million Copper by 2031?”*
*What Critics Say:*
– Zambia has never produced more than 3.6m tonnes maize, we currently produce 2,500MW, we produce 800,000 tonnes copper. You are promising to triple everything in 5 years. This is campaign talk. No feasibility, no money. Even the IMF projects 6-7% growth, not doubling the economy.
*BALLY’S REBUTTAL:*
“They told us debt restructuring was impossible. We did it. They told us inflation would never come from 24% to 6.1%. We did it. That is why I said we will do ‘strange but legal things’ to unlock opportunities. 10,000MW will not come from ZESCO alone – it will come from private sector. 3 million tonnes copper will come from new mines like Mingomba, Enterprise, Upper Kobokola that we have unlocked. 5 million tourists will come when we open Northern Circuit. I set targets that scare us to work hard. Better to aim high and hit 70% than aim low and achieve nothing.”
*In Conclusion:*
I have no doubt that in his first five-year term, Bally has grasped the tenets of governance and fused them very well with his business acumen.
He has moved from being a political President to becoming a Corporate CEO for Zambia. He now understands both the State House and the Boardroom.
If this new Cabinet team grasps his vision and implements according to Bally’s Grow Zambia business plan, we may witness real, tangible growth never seen before in the history of this country. Growth that will translate into jobs, more money in people’s pockets, and genuine wealth creation.
Bally knows the risk. That is why he said “Deliver or Go”. This is his most business-minded Cabinet. If it delivers the 10-10-5-3-3-1-1-1, he will be remembered as the President who doubled the economy. If it fails, critics will say he bloated government.
But one thing is clear: He has stopped being a Caretaker and has become a CEO.
It is a wait and see, but for the first time in a long time, the structure matches the ambition.
Analysis by Professor Edgar Ng’oma*
Philosopher, Political Consultant and Distinguished Good Governance Fellow_