AIPAC CALLS FOR REINTRODUCTION OF DEPUTY MINISTERS AND MINISTRY OF CHIEFS AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS
9th September, 2026 Lusaka Zambia
The Acton Institute for Policy Analysis Centre (AIPAC) has conducted extensive research and firmly concludes that the absence of Deputy Ministers in Zambia has weakened governance and service delivery.
Zambia and Kenya remains the only countries in Africa without Deputy Ministers, and this has made the work of Cabinet Ministers more difficult as they struggle to address the many challenges facing various sectors. It was wrong for Zambia to have borrowed this model which was only introduced in Africa by Kenya during its 2010 constitutional amendments.
We must always be careful when borrowing certain laws and governance structures from other countries without adapting them to our own context. The President has a Vice President, and we see nothing wrong with Cabinet Ministers having Deputy Ministers to support them in executing their duties effectively.
Contrary to claims that Deputy Ministers were costly, our findings show that such arguments were made purely for politicking purposes, without evidence-based data to support them. The reality is that Deputy Ministers are essential in strengthening leadership, improving efficiency, and ensuring that government policies are implemented effectively.
We therefore urge Parliamentarians to table a bill in the next sitting of Parliament to reintroduce Deputy Ministers as a matter of urgency.
At the same time, AIPAC appeals to His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema to re-establish the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, which is vital for preserving Zambia’s cultural heritage, strengthening traditional leadership, and fostering unity between government and traditional institutions.
We also recognize that it is the constitutional authority of the President to appoint Cabinet Ministers and Provincial Ministers. In exercising this authority, we respectfully urge him to consider appointing at least one person with disabilities and one representative from the private sector. This would broaden inclusivity and bring diverse perspectives into government.
Furthermore, Zambia must now focus decisively on job creation. We call on government to immediately begin the process of implementing a 24-hour economy, which will expand opportunities, stimulate growth, and create employment for thousands of Zambians.
AIPAC believes that these measures will enhance governance, improve service delivery, and reinforce Zambia’s democratic, cultural, and economic foundations.
Issued by:
Solomon Ngoma
Executive Director