Government Ministries/Departments in Zambia | Web & Contacts Directory/Listing

In Zambia Agriculture plays a key role of supporting industries by the production of the required raw materials , producing exportable agricultural goods, generating employment particularly in rural areas, as well as providing food stuffs essential for the sustenance of acceptable nutrition standards and levels.

THE Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (MOCTA) was created in September, 2011 by the late 5th Republican President, His Excellence, Mr. Micheal Chilufya Sata, after recognizing the important role that chiefs play in matters of national development.

The Government Gazzette Notice No. 836 of 2016 on Statutory Functions and Composition of Government Portfolios assigns MoCTA with the responsibility to formulate policy and implement programmes on Administration of Chiefs’ Affairs, Folklore and Preservation of Oral Traditions, Indigenous Knowledge, Promotion of Traditional Crafts, Registration of Villages, Research in Culture, and Traditional ceremonies.

The Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry (MCTI) is Zambia’s principal Government body responsible for administering national policy for private sector development. It coordinates industrial, commercial and trade matters and liaises with various public and private sector organisations to facilitate the implementation of government sector policies related to trade and industry. This is in line with the Ministry’s mission statement.

The Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH) was established through a Presidential decree in September 2011. This Ministry is key in providing and facilitating the provision of equitable social protection and quality primary health care services to communities in order to contribute to sustainable human development.” It contributes to poverty reduction and improved quality of life of citizens in order to foster national development. Within the context of Social Protection and Health service delivery, the Ministry implements and facilitates the provision of social welfare, community development and primary health care services

The Ministry of Energy (MoE) was established in 2016 following the Republican President’s directive to re-align the Ministry from the then Ministry of Energy and Water Development (MEWD).  This was during the President’s address to Parliament in September, 2016.

Prior to the re-alignments, the Ministry of Energy and Water Development was part of the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development (MMEWD) which was established in 2012 following the Patriotic Front (PF) Party forming Government in 2011. In 2015, MMEWD was re-aligned to the Ministry of Energy and Water Development and Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development (MMMD).

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) derives its mandate from Part X of the Constitution of Zambia. It is also guided by statutory and portfolio functions as stipulated in the Government Gazette Notice No. 183 of 23rd March, 2012. The Ministry is charged with economic, national development planning and budgeting, and financial management responsibilities. The Ministry is headed by a Minister assisted by a Deputy Minister. The administrative and technical team is headed by the Secretary to the Treasury assisted by two Permanent Secretaries, namely Permanent Secretary – EMF (Economic Management and Finance) and Permanent Secretary –B (Budget)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the twenty-two (22) Ministries of the Republic Of Zambia. It was established in 1964.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for the formulation and administration of Zambia’s Foreign Policy. The Ministry is also responsible for the establishment and maintenance of Zambia’s International Relations. The Ministry also coordinates the signing of treaties (Agreements and Conventions), pledges and contributions to the United Nations Agencies and other International Organisations.

Membership of Zambia and contact with International and Regional Organisations is a responsibility vested in the Ministry. The Ministry coordinates Zambia’s Diplomatic and Consular Missions Abroad.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Gender, is committed to protecting and promoting women’s rights, curbing gender-based violence and reducing gender inequalities by making progressive changes to legislation to strengthen the protective environment. It aims to prioritise the advancement of women and strengthen their capacity to influence decision-making at the highest level on matters pertaining to gender equity and equality.

The portfolio functions of the Ministry are coordinating and monitoring the implementation of:

• The National Gender policy;
• The Matrimonial Causes Act; and
• The Anti-Gender Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011

The Mandate of the MoGE is to formulate and implement Education and Science Policies, set and enforce standards and regulations, licence, supervise and provide education and skills development, as well as promote science, technology and innovation education.

Vision of the Ministry "A Nation of Healthy & Productive People" Mission Statement "To provide equity of access to cost effective quality health services, as close to the family as possible in a Clean, Caring & Competent environnment"

The Ministry of Home Affairs is a government institution charged with the critical responsibility of providing and maintaining internal security for purposes of creating an environment where peace, stability and justice prevail in order to promote sustainable socio-economic development for the people of Zambia.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development was restructured in September 2021 by His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.

It was previously called the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development having been created in September 2016 by the 6th President, His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

However, in September 2021, following the creation and re-alignment of Ministries by President Hichilema to improve efficiency in government operations, one of the re-organization measures was the restructuring of the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development to now be called the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) is responsible for formulation and administration of the guidelines, regulations and laws relating to broadcasting and television services, cinematography policy, information services, media and theatre policies.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) has a mandate to coordinate the coverage of social, cultural, and economic development matters in the country. The Ministry is the main government channel for the collection, compiling and dissemination of information on all government programs and activities. The Ministry is headed by a Cabinet Minister who is appointed by the Republican President

The Judiciary of Zambia is an independent arm of the government. Under Article 91(2) of the Constitution, Judges, Magistrates and Justices shall be independent, impartial and subject only to the Constitution and the law. They shall also conduct themselves in accordance with the code of conduct promulgated by parliament.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has started the process of strengthening its labour market information System. LMIS is a simply mechanism for capturing, processing, storing, analysing and disseminating Labour market information for career, business and policy decision -making. LMI is data about the supply and demand for labour in the labour markets.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was re-aligned in 2016 through Government Gazette Number 836 of 2016. This re-alignment saw the removal of the function of environmental protection from the Ministry. The Ministry is responsible for land administration, forest management and climate change programmes co-ordination.

The Ministry consists of eight (8) departments namely: Human Resource and Administration, Lands, Survey, Lands and Deeds, Forestry, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management, Finance and Planning and Information departments. In addition, the Ministry is responsible for the Zambia Forestry College and the following statutory bodies and Institutions: Lands Tribunal and Survey Control Board.

The Ministry of Tourism and Art was created on 10th July, 2011 after realignment of Government Ministries by His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, the President of Republic of Zambia. This brought together the portfolio functions of tourism from former Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and the portfolio functions of Culture from the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs. This was done in order to streamline and rationalise the functions and operations of the tourism and cultural sector.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications was created by a Presidential Decree following the splitting of the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications in 2015 and became fully operational on 1st January 2016. The mandate of the Ministry is to formulate and administer policies in the transport, communications and meteorological sectors in order to enhance their contribution to sustained socio-economic development for the people of Zambia.

The Ministry draws its mandate from the portfolio functions as outlined in the   Government Gazette Notice No. 836 of 2016 which outlines the portfolio functions of the Ministry as follows:

• Child Development;
• Child Policy;
• Co-ordination of Sports Organisations;
• Co-ordination of Youth Organisations;
• Sports Development;
• Sports Policy;
• Street Children;
• Youth Entrepreneurship;
• Youth Policy; and
• Youth Skills Development.