Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa has directed senior public service officers to intensify their work and ensure uninterrupted service delivery to citizens, particularly as the country prepares for the 2026 general elections.

Mr Kangwa said the public service must remain professional, efficient and non-partisan, noting that government business must continue seamlessly regardless of the political calendar.

He was speaking in Lusaka today when he officiated at the first Senior Public Service Management meeting of 2026, which brought together Permanent Secretaries, Chief Administrators and other senior government officials.

At the same meeting, the Provincial Service Delivery Charters were launched.

“I urge you to work even harder and ensure that there is no gap in service delivery to the people of Zambia,” Mr Kangwa said.

He clarified that during the election period, the constitutional responsibility for the discharge of ministerial functions will rest solely on the republican President, supported by the Vice President, and not with Permanent Secretaries.

“There will be no Permanent Secretary acting as a minister. Permanent Secretaries will remain in their substantive positions and continue delivering for the Zambian people as we have always done,” he emphasised.

He reminded the officials that the core purpose of the Senior Public Service Management meetings is to ensure that Cabinet decisions are communicated, monitored and implemented without delay as they feed directly into cabinet.

He directed that the last Thursday of every month be reserved strictly for Senior Public Service Management meetings, warning that no travel or alternative engagements will be approved on those dates.

Mr Kangwa has meanwhile commended the public service for achievements recorded over the past four years under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, describing the progress as unprecedented.

He cited milestones such as the speedy constitutional amendment process, reduction of inflation to single digits, successful engagement with the International Monetary Fund, improved agricultural productivity, and expanded social services as some of the major achievements in the past four years.

Mr Kangwa also noted progress in health infrastructure, energy, mining, resettlement and agriculture, saying these achievements are a direct result of a focused and professional public service.

“Even as political activity intensifies, our role as the public service is to remain focused and deliver. Government business must continue efficiently and without interruption,” he said.

And the Secretary to the Cabinet has urged civil servants that have political ambitions to resign from the civil service.

“Our loyalty to the Constitution, the duly elected government of the day, and the Zambian people must be unquestionable. Any Permanent Secretary intending to join active politics must resign from the civil service immediately. Failure to do so will result in strict enforcement of the law,” he stated.

Speaking at the same event, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Kusobile Kamwambi, described the launch of the Provincial Service Delivery Charters as a major milestone in decentralising services.

Ms Kamwambi noted that the launch puts all 10 provincial administrations into the programme which will further strengthen service delivery at grassroots level.

She revealed that the generic Provincial Service Delivery Charter covers 103 services across 19 functional areas, ranging from the issuance of national registration cards to soil mapping.

She explained that while the charter provides a national framework, provinces will customise it to reflect local administrative realities and service availability, adding that they were aligned with parent ministries, devolved to provincial level and validated through consultations held in November last year.

And Secretary to the Treasury, Felix Nkulukusa, said the government has made significant progress in stabilising the economy through fiscal consolidation, debt restructuring and sustained policy reforms, with a strong focus now shifting to job creation and private sector-led growth.

Mr Nkulukusa said the meeting was meant to reflect on the state of the economy which the government inherited in 2021, the priorities set at the time, and the extent to which those priorities have been achieved.

He explained since 2021, the key priority has been fiscal consolidation and debt restructuring to restore macroeconomic stability and sustainability.

President Hakainde Hichilema has appreciated the working bilateral relations with the diplomatic corps that have continually supported reforms in the country’s economic agenda, particularly in 2025.

Speaking during the annual greeting of the diplomatic corps in Lusaka today, President Hichilema said Zambia values dialogue, partnership and cooperation with foreign envoys that strengthen relations with different states and envoys.

The President said Zambia has continued to advance with positive reforms in areas such as the rule of law, procurement, utilisation of public resources, regulations, laws and policies which are central for improving the operating environment for the economic reconstruction programme.

The Head of State explained that economic reconstruction remains the government’s priority, indicating that Zambia is looking to over 6.0 percent gross domestic product growth in 2026.

“It is the economic diplomacy reforms around increased trade and investment that will lead to benefiting the ordinary people of Zambia,” President Hichilema stated.

And the President noted that strong reforms in mining have led to the country’s economic growth.

President Hichilema said the mining industry has also recorded the largest investment while correcting the fallacy that mining companies are not paying tax.

“This has supported the social sector like health, social cash transfer, education and the welfare of the elderly, youths, children and women’s welfare,” he added.

The President further said agriculture also contributed significantly to economic growth, with a record breaking production of over 3.7 million tonnes of grain maize in the last season.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema said there is need to accelerate the interconnector projects with Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique to help advance in the provision of electricity for Zambians.

And speaking on behalf of the foreign envoys accredited to Zambia, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Hawa Hassan Mohammad, assured continued support to Zambia’s development agenda.

Ambassador Mohammad stated that the diplomatic corps will continue to engage with the government in areas of shared interest.

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps also congratulated Zambia for being appointed as the current Vice Chair and in-coming Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“This reflects the country’s constructive engagement and regional affairs. Zambia’s engagement at regional, continental and global levels including the promotion of peaceful resolution is worthy of recognition,” Ambassador Mohammad said.

Ambassador Mohammad further acknowledged Zambia’s progress in food security, which she said supports livelihoods and economic stability.

Meanwhile, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rodney Sikumba, indicated that such engagements continue to strengthen understanding, foster cooperation, as well as advance the collective aspirations for peace, stability and sustainable development.

Mr Sikumba said Zambia has placed strong emphasis on re-engagement with the international community, with a desire to build trust, attract investment, expand trade, and create opportunities to improve livelihoods, while contributing positively to regional and global development.

He expressed gratitude to the Diplomatic Corps for the partnerships, the technical and financial cooperation extended to Zambia, as well as the constructive engagement that has characterised the relations.

Government has launched the construction of a 20-megawatt solar power plant and two grid-connected solar facilities at the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) in Lusaka.

The Project, which   is being developed by ZESCO Limited, through its subsidiary company Kiyona Energy Limited, is part of Zambia’s strategy to diversify its energy mix and reduce reliance on hydropower, the Energy Minister said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote said the project marked a key milestone in the country’s transition toward a cleaner, more resilient and sustainable energy system.

He said the project includes a 20 MW solar power plant that will feed into the national grid and two dedicated solar facilities that will supply NRDC directly, ensuring uninterrupted power for teaching, research and agricultural production.

 “Eighty-five percent of Zambia’s electricity generation has historically depended on hydropower, when our reservoirs were depleted by drought, it exposed the vulnerability of that model and forced us to accelerate investment in alternative energy sources, particularly solar,” Mr Chikote said.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to powering public institutions with solar energy to prevent future power crises, describing the NRDC project as a model for similar developments across the country.

ZESCO Ltd Managing Director Engineer Justin Loongo reaffirmed ZESCO’s commitment to building a resilient, affordable and sustainable energy sector, citing climate change and rising electricity demand as key drivers for increased investment in renewable energy.

Mr Loongo said solar energy projects such as the NRDC plant would help reduce pressure on the national grid, improve system resilience and support long-term energy stability, especially as reliance on hydropower becomes increasingly uncertain due to changing rainfall patterns.

Munali Member of Parliament Mike Mposha said the project would benefit surrounding communities through job creation, use of local skills and stimulation of economic activity.

“These are the kinds of projects our people want to see, projects that not only produce power but also transform communities,” he said.

And Ministry of Agriculture Acting Permanent Secretary Chizumba Shepande said the project would provide reliable and sustainable energy to support irrigation systems, modern laboratories and research facilities at the college.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha said the project reflected sound governance, strong partnerships and a commitment to sustainable national development.

Taiho Service Company Limited representative Zhou Bing said the project reflected effective collaboration among key public and private sector stakeholders.

And Kiyoma Energy Chief Executive Officer Clement Siame said his firm was committed to operating the plant in line with the highest technical, environmental and safety standards.

Meanwhile residents of Munali constituency have thanked government for the project.

Naomi Mubili said the project site was a dumping site where people used to get killed and said the project will empower youths through employment.

While Gala Banda thanked government for allocating the former dumping site to the Kiyo Energy Company which, he said, had brought development to the area.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested and charged four public officers in connection with the alleged misappropriation of part of a USD 10 million loan facility obtained from the African Development Bank (ADB) under the Strategic Livestock Investment and Management Project (SLIMP).

The arrests bring the total number of suspects arrested in the case to seven, as investigations into the alleged abuse of public resources continue.

In a statement issued by ACC Director General, Daphne Chabu, the suspects were apprehended during the second phase of investigations into the alleged diversion of funds from the SLIMP loan, which was secured by government in 2019 to support livestock development.

The Director General noted that among those arrested is Emmanuel Chilala (41), an Accountant at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, who has been charged with three counts of corrupt acquisition of public property, contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

She said the charges relate to the alleged fraudulent diversion of K15.6 million, which he is accused of drawing as imprest through his personal account from various SLIMP accounts.

Mr Chilala is also facing three counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, involving landed properties valued at K4.56 million and a motor vehicle valued at K200,000.

In addition, Ms. Chabu said Mr Chilala  has been charged with six counts of concealment of property after allegedly transferring ownership of seven properties in Chilanga District to his mother and a farm to his father.

Another suspect, Ackim Mwalilino (32), an Acting Livestock Research Production Officer, has been charged with one count of corrupt acquisition of public property following the alleged diversion of part of K4.7 million drawn as imprest through his personal account.

The Director stated that Mr Mwalilino has further been charged with three counts of possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime, involving assets valued at K3.45 million.

The Commission has also charged Sharon Hikaumba (40), a Stenographer at the Ministry of Agriculture and spouse to Mr Chilala, with three counts of concealment of property, while the charges relate to the alleged transfer of ownership of three motor vehicles valued at K1.5 million to her grandmother and father-in-law.

Meanwhile, Kabemba Mwambilwa (47), an Assistant Director for Livestock Development, has been charged with two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, involving landed properties valued at K11.9 million.

Ms. Chabu disclosed that a total of 37 properties have so far been restricted in relation to the case, including 27 houses, three farms and seven motor vehicles located in different parts of the country.

She added that the Commission has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the investigations, attributing it to collaboration with key stakeholders.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public resources and carrying out its mandate professionally and impartially.

The Director General further revealed that investigations are still ongoing and that the Office of the Auditor General has been engaged to conduct a forensic audit of the SLIMP loan.

The Commission said the audit may lead to the arrest of more suspects as the full extent of the alleged abuse of public resources is established.