PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has revealed that he has engaged with Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane to reorganise public money and put more of it in the energy sector.
Dr Musokotwane is scheduled to present the 2026 national budget to the National Assembly later this Friday, September 26, 2025.
President Hichilema said cabinet office must be able to facilitate such directives without fail and it should not stand in the way.
The Head of State disclosed this at State House yesterday as he swore in four diplomats and two cabinet office officials.
“After my meeting, Vice President [Mutale Nalumango], I spent a bit of time with the Finance Minister to reorganise our public money, to put more money in energy. That’s what we are supposed to do,” shared President Hichilema.
The Head of State called on the new cabinet to prioritise energy issues, emphasising that even what seems like a small problem such as a barbershop losing power, it has a significant impact on citizens’ livelihoods.
He told the officials that their salaries and positions were earned because of the public’s needs, and they must not let bureaucracy stand in the way of solving these problems.
President Hichilema added that cabinet office was the engine of delivery across the country and work needed to continue being done.
The two cabinet officials sworn in yesterday are Eugene Moonga, director in charge of policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation, Policy Analysis and Coordination Division at Cabinet Office, and Muyambango Nkwemu who will be working as a public policy specialist, Policy Analysis Division and Coordination at Cabinet Office.
The four diplomats include Professor Nkombo Muuka, sworn in as Zambia’s Ambassador to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Albert Muchanga who will now represent Zambia in Ethiopia, Grace Mutembo sworn in as Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa and Abidon Mawere sworn in as Zambia’s Ambassador to Russia.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, September 23, 2025
