Hichilema Names First Four Ministers, Warns Cabinet: ‘Those Who Veer Away Will Be On Their Own’

59 ViewsPresident says public money must be accounted for as he unveils Musokotwane, Haimbe, Chilengi and Siame to lead key ministries. LUSAKA — President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed the first four Cabinet ministers of his second administration, warning them to serve with humility, responsibility and hard work while making it clear that those who abandon […]

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President says public money must be accounted for as he unveils Musokotwane, Haimbe, Chilengi and Siame to lead key ministries.

President Hakainde Hichilema

LUSAKA — President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed the first four Cabinet ministers of his second administration, warning them to serve with humility, responsibility and hard work while making it clear that those who abandon his government’s principles will have to face the consequences on their own.

The President also issued a strong warning against corruption, stressing that public resources belong to the people and must be properly accounted for.

The first four ministers appointed are:

• Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP — Minister of Finance
• Mulambo Haimbe, MP — Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Dr Roma Chilengi, MP — Minister of Health
• Dr Gilbert Siame, MP — Minister of Green Economy

The appointments mark the beginning of the formation of Hichilema’s new Cabinet following his re-election in the August 13 General Election.

‘Serve with humility and responsibility’

Addressing the newly appointed ministers, Hichilema urged them to approach their responsibilities with humility, hard work and a strong sense of duty to the Zambian people.

The President warned that holding public office should not be viewed as an opportunity for personal benefit, but as a responsibility to deliver for citizens.

He particularly emphasised the need for accountability in the management of public resources, warning against corruption and the misuse of taxpayers’ money.

Hichilema’s message comes as he begins his second term with an emphasis on moving the country from economic stabilisation towards increased production, investment, employment and growth.

The President has described this second-term programme as the “Grow Zambia Agenda.”

‘Those who veer away will be on their own’

Hichilema also delivered a blunt message to the new members of his administration.

He warned that those who veer away from the expected standards of service, accountability and responsibility will be on their own.

The warning sets the tone for the new Cabinet at the beginning of the President’s second five-year term.

It also places individual responsibility on ministers for the way they manage their respective ministries and public resources.

Why these four ministries matter

The first four appointments cover four areas that will be central to the President’s second-term programme.

Finance — Situmbeko Musokotwane

Musokotwane returns to the Finance portfolio at a critical point in Zambia’s economic programme.

His ministry will be central to managing public finances, debt, investment, economic growth and the Government’s broader effort to translate economic stabilisation into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

Foreign Affairs — Mulambo Haimbe

Haimbe returns to Foreign Affairs, a portfolio he previously held.

The ministry will be important in managing Zambia’s international relationships, diplomatic partnerships, investment diplomacy and the country’s engagement with regional and global institutions. Haimbe’s previous appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister is also documented by the Cabinet Office.

Health — Roma Chilengi

Chilengi brings public-health experience to the Ministry of Health, having previously served as Director-General of the Zambia National Public Health Institute.

His appointment places a technical health-sector figure at the head of one of the most important public-service ministries.

Green Economy — Gilbert Siame

Siame, an academic from the University of Zambia, takes charge of the Green Economy portfolio.

The ministry will be important to Zambia’s efforts around sustainable development, environmental management, climate-related investment and the economic value that can be generated from the country’s natural resources.

The bigger assignment: Grow Zambia

The appointments come as Hichilema begins pushing his second-term economic agenda, which places production and economic growth at the centre of Government’s priorities.

The Grow Zambia programme includes ambitious targets around agriculture, electricity, tourism and copper production. Among the targets previously outlined are 10 million tonnes of maize, 10,000 megawatts of electricity generation, five million international tourists and three million tonnes of copper by 2031.

The President has argued that the first term concentrated heavily on economic stabilisation and debt restructuring, while the second term must increasingly translate those gains into jobs, businesses, investment and higher household incomes.

That makes the choice of the first four ministries significant.

Finance will be expected to create the fiscal environment for investment and growth.

Foreign Affairs will help attract and manage international partnerships.

Health will be central to improving human capital and public services.

Green Economy will sit at the intersection of sustainability, investment and the country’s natural-resource ambitions.

Hichilema still speaking

By press time, President Hichilema was still addressing the gathering, with much of his message continuing to centre on the Grow Zambia agenda and the need for his administration to focus on economic expansion and opportunities for citizens.

The President’s emphasis on growth marks an important shift in the political message of his second term: from the economic stabilisation and debt restructuring agenda of the first term towards production, investment, job creation and measurable economic expansion.

The question now is whether the new Cabinet can translate that agenda into results that ordinary Zambians can see and feel.