Mweetwa, Mulenga and Milupi Miss Out as Hichilema Unveils New Cabinet Mweetwa, Mulenga and Milupi Miss Out as Hichilema Unveils CabinetMweetwa, Mulenga and Milupi Miss Out as Hichilema Unveils New Cabinet
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NewsNew faces enter government as former ministers’ portfolios are split, renamed or reassigned; President calls for integrity, equal treatment and results. President Hakainde Hichilema has unveiled his new Cabinet following a swearing-in ceremony at State House in Lusaka on Wednesday, October 28, with Cornelius Mweetwa, Chipoka Mulenga and Charles Milupi among the familiar faces missing Cornelius Mweetwa, Chipoka Mulenga and Charles Milupi are absent as Hichilema unveils new ministers, reshuffles portfolios and calls for accountability.New faces enter government as former ministers’ portfolios are split, renamed or reassigned; President calls for integrity, equal treatment and results. President Hakainde Hichilema has unveiled his new Cabinet following a swearing-in ceremony at State House in Lusaka on Wednesday, October 28, with Cornelius Mweetwa, Chipoka Mulenga and Charles Milupi among the familiar faces missing
New faces enter government as former ministers’ portfolios are split, renamed or reassigned; President calls for integrity, equal treatment and results.
President Hakainde Hichilema has unveiled his new Cabinet following a swearing-in ceremony at State House in Lusaka on Wednesday, October 28, with Cornelius Mweetwa, Chipoka Mulenga and Charles Milupi among the familiar faces missing from the new lineup.
The changes follow Parliament’s approval of a restructuring of government ministries from 24 to 30, a move that has generated debate over the cost and efficiency of the expanded structure.
Several responsibilities previously held under combined ministries have now been separated, while new appointments have brought fresh faces into government. Other familiar ministers have returned to Cabinet with different responsibilities.
Among the most notable changes, Elvis Nkandu has taken over the Information and Media portfolio previously held by Mweetwa. Chipoka Mulenga’s former Commerce, Trade and Industry portfolio has been divided between Trade and Exports, headed by Dr Caroline Katotobwe, and Industry, assigned to Noel Nkhoma.
Milupi, who previously headed Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, is also absent from the new lineup. Collins Nzovu has been appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development, while Patrick Mucheleka has been assigned the Lands portfolio.
The full distribution of the new portfolios, including Housing and Transport and Logistics, still requires clarification from official appointment records.
New faces and familiar names return
The new Cabinet includes several appointments across economic, security, agricultural and social sectors.
Dr Clement Andeleki has been appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, replacing the previous arrangement under Jack Mwiimbu, who has now been assigned the Justice portfolio.
Moses Moyo takes over Agriculture, while Olive Chiboola has been appointed Minister of Fisheries and Livestock.
Dr Caroline Katotobwe takes charge of Trade and Exports, with Noel Nkhoma appointed Minister of Industry and Lucky Sichone heading Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
Brenda Tambatamba has been appointed Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, while Peter Kapala takes charge of the newly separated Ministry of Electricity. Makozo Chikote has been assigned the Ministry of Petroleum.
Princess Kasune has moved to Tourism, while Collins Nzovu takes Infrastructure and Urban Development. Patrick Mucheleka has been appointed Minister of Lands, and Elisha Matambo takes Water Development and Sanitation.
The Information and Media portfolio has gone to Elvis Nkandu, while Douglas Syakalima has been assigned Skills and Higher Education. Felix Mutati takes Technology and Science, and Harry Kamboni has been appointed Minister of Education.
At local government level, Gift Sialubalo returns as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. Jack Mwiimbu moves to Justice, Misheck Nyambose takes Labour and Social Security, and Sheal Mulyata has been appointed Minister of Community Development and Social Services.
Likando Mufalali takes Youth and Sports, while Christopher Chibuye has been assigned Culture and Arts.
Ambrose Lufuma returns as Minister of Defence, while the appointments of the four ministers sworn in on September 14 remain part of the wider government structure: Situmbeko Musokotwane at Finance and National Planning, Mulambo Haimbe at Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor Roma Chilengi at Health, and Dr Gilbert Siame at Green Economy and Environment.
What happened to the former portfolios?
The changes to the Cabinet go beyond replacing individual ministers. They also involve a reorganisation of government responsibilities.
The former Ministry of Energy has been divided into separate ministries for Electricity and Petroleum. Peter Kapala takes Electricity, while Makozo Chikote heads Petroleum.
The former Commerce, Trade and Industry portfolio has also been separated. Dr Caroline Katotobwe is responsible for Trade and Exports, Noel Nkhoma for Industry, and Lucky Sichone for Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
The previous Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development has been reorganised, with Collins Nzovu assigned Infrastructure and Urban Development and Patrick Mucheleka taking Lands. The appointment to a separate Housing ministry needs to be confirmed against the official list.
The former Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has also been divided into Youth and Sports under Likando Mufalali and Culture and Arts under Christopher Chibuye.
Education has been separated from Skills and Higher Education, with Harry Kamboni taking Education and Douglas Syakalima assigned the latter portfolio.
These changes raise questions about whether the new structure will improve specialisation and accountability or create additional administrative costs. The government has said the restructuring is intended to improve efficiency, but the full financial implications and expected savings will need to be made public.
Hichilema’s message to the new ministers
During the swearing-in ceremony, President Hichilema emphasised the importance of integrity, lawful conduct, accountability and equal treatment of citizens.
He urged the new ministers to respect the Constitution and the rule of law, warning that public officials must not obstruct or delay investment.
The President also called for civilised debate and national unity, saying government must serve all Zambians fairly, regardless of where they live or their background.
He stressed that social protection programmes, including the Social Cash Transfer, the Farmer Input Support Programme and the Food Security Pack, must reach beneficiaries who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.
Hichilema further directed the ministers to uphold confidentiality, transparency and collective responsibility in the performance of their duties.
His message placed emphasis on results, with the administration expected to use the new government structure to advance the Grow Zambia Agenda through investment, production, job creation and improved public services.
The cost and accountability question
The restructuring has generated debate because it increases the number of ministries at a time when the government has been under pressure to control public expenditure.
Supporters of specialised ministries may argue that separating responsibilities can improve focus and make it easier to identify who is accountable for performance. Critics, however, may question whether the benefits justify the additional administrative arrangements and political offices.
The real test will be whether the new ministries can demonstrate clearer responsibilities, better coordination and improved service delivery without unnecessary duplication.
The absence of Mweetwa, Mulenga and Milupi also marks a significant change in the political composition of the Cabinet. Their former responsibilities have been reassigned or reorganised, but the full implications of these changes will become clearer as the new ministers begin their work.
For now, the President has set out the expectations: integrity, compliance with the law, equal treatment of citizens and measurable results.
The public will be watching to see whether the new Cabinet can translate those commitments into improved services and better value for taxpayers.
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