Hichilema brings technocrats into Parliament ahead of new Cabinet

🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Hichilema brings technocrats into Parliament ahead of new Cabinet President Hakainde Hichilema has nominated five Members of Parliament, bringing a mix of economic, health, academic, diplomatic and political experience into the National Assembly as attention turns to the composition of his second-term Cabinet. The five are former Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe, […]

🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Hichilema brings technocrats into Parliament ahead of new Cabinet

President Hakainde Hichilema has nominated five Members of Parliament, bringing a mix of economic, health, academic, diplomatic and political experience into the National Assembly as attention turns to the composition of his second-term Cabinet.

The five are former Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe, former Zambia National Public Health Institute Director-General Roma Chilengi, economist Noel Nkhoma, University of Zambia academic Gilbert Siame and former Luena Member of Parliament Mubita Anakoka. They have since taken oath before Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti.

The selections offer an early indication of the skills Hichilema wants available as he structures his second-term administration.

Chilengi brings public-health and institutional experience, Nkhoma an economics and finance background, Siame academia and policy expertise, while Haimbe and Anakoka bring previous government and parliamentary experience.

Their nomination does not itself confirm Cabinet appointments. It does, however, place all five inside Parliament and therefore makes them available for ministerial appointment should the President choose them when he unveils his new administration.

The date for the Cabinet announcement has not yet been made public.

The choices will attract particular attention against Hichilema’s promise to move his second term from economic stabilisation towards growth, jobs and lower household costs under the Grow Zambia agenda. Delivering that programme will require more than political representation. It will require technical capacity across economic management, health, investment, public administration and implementation.

Mutti said the taking of oaths will continue for the remaining nominated and proportional-representation MPs.

With Cabinet still to come, the first nominations suggest Hichilema is assembling not only a political team, but a pool of experienced professionals from which parts of his second-term government could be drawn.

– The People’s Brief | Tracey Shumba