Zambian Government

The Zambian government is headed by an elected president who serves for a five year-term. Zambia became independent on 24th October 1964.

Michael Chilufya Sata

Currently the incumbent president is Michael Chilufya Sata. He was inaugurated on 23rd September 2011 as president of the republic of Zambia.

The vice President is Dr. Guy Scott.

Capital City

The capital city of Zambia is Lusaka.

Provinces

The country is divided into 10 (ten provinces): Lusaka, Copperbelt, North-Western, Eastern, Southern, Luapula, Northern, Central, Western and Muchinga. These are administered by appointed deputy ministers. Further more, the provinces are also subdivided into 72 districts.

The government's structure consists of three organs, i.e. the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary operating autonomously...

Cabinet

One arm of the executive branch in the Zambian government is the cabinet which is appointed by the president from among the National Assembly.

Here is a list of cabinet ministers as well as deputy ministers:

Office of the Vice President

Vice President – Dr. Guy Scott
Deputy Minister – Edgar C Lungu

Ministry of Justice

Cabinet Minister – Sebastian S Zulu
Deputy Minister – Dr Ngosa Simbyakula

Ministry of Defence

Cabinet Minister – Geoffrey B Mwamba
Deputy Minister – Colonel Panji Kaunda

Ministry of Finance

Cabinet Minister – Alexander B Chikwanda
Deputy Minister – Alfreda Kansembe

Ministry of Home Affairs

Cabinet Minister – Kennedy Sakeni
Deputy Minister – Obvious Mwaliteta

Ministry of Health

Cabinet Minister – Dr Joseph Kasonde
Deputy Minister – Dr Patrick Chikusu

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cabinet Minister – Chishimba Kambwili
Deputy Minister – Dr Effron Lungu

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

Cabinet Minister – Emmanuel T Chenda
Deputy Minister – Nicholas Banda

Ministry of Labour, Sports Youth and Gender

Cabinet Minister – Fackson Shamenda
Deputy Minister – Rayford Mbulu

Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry

Cabinet Minister – Robert Sichinga
Deputy Minister – Keith Mukata

Ministry of Mines

Cabinet Minister – Wilbur Simuusa
Deputy Minister – Richard Musukwa

Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism

Cabinet Minister – Given Lubinda
Deputy Minister – Forrie Tembo

Ministry of Education, Science and vocational Training

Cabinet Minister – Dr John T N Phiri
Deputy Minister – Prof Vevelyn Willombe

Ministry of Lands, Energy and Water Development

Cabinet Minister – Christopher Yaluma
Deputy Minister – Charles Zulu

Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Early Education and Environment Protection

Cabinet Minister – Prof Nkandu Luo
Deputy Minister – Esther Banda

Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health

Cabinet Minister – Dr Joseph Katema
Deputy Minister – Jean Kapata

Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs

Cabinet Minister – Inonge Wina
Deputy Minister – Belinga Kawandami

Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications

Cabinet Minister – Yamfwa Mukanga
Deputy Minister – Laban Mwenya Musenge

Provincial Ministers

Central – Philip Kosamu
Southern – Miles Sampa
Copperbelt – Roders Mwewa
Luapula –Davies Mwila
Eastern – Solomon Mbuzi
Lusaka – Gerry Chanda
Northern – Freedom Sikazwe
North-Western – J Limata Limata
Western – Nathaniel Mubukwanu

Judicial

The final court of appeal is the Supreme Court. Justices are appointed by the president. The subordinate courts are the high court, magistrate's court and local courts.

Legal System

The legal system is based on English common law and customary law.

Suffrage

Universal adult.

Legislature

The Zambian government has a unicameral National Assembly, comprising of 158 seats. 8 members are appointed by the president and 150 are elected by popular vote. They serve for 5 years.

Political Parties

The ruling political party at the moment is the Patriotic Front (PF).

Other opposition political parties worth reckoning are: Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), headed by Rupiah Bwezani Banda, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), headed by Edith Nawakwi, United Party for National Development (UPND) headed by Hakainde Hichilema, and United National Independence party ( UNIP), headed by Tilyenji Kaunda.

Indeed, Zambia being a multi-party democracy, there several other small parties which have jumped onto the band wagon!