Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has directed relevant line ministries and agencies to accelerate procurement of electric and hybrid vehicles from relevant line ministries and agencies to promote environmental sustainability.
Mr. Kangwa indicates that his directive follows proposals from an earlier meeting last year that bordered on incorporating electric and hybrid vehicles into the government’s transport policy.
He has stated that the initiative aims to reduce fuel import costs and promote environmental sustainability and further noted the need to establish electric charging points across government facilities.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Kangwa adds that the government will soon give a report to the nation on the achievements made so far during the implementation of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), as it comes to an end in 2026.
In his opening remarks, when addressing Permanent Secretary’s and other senior management officials from various line ministries during the sixth Senior Public Service Management meeting in Lusaka today, Mr. Kangwa charged that development should not be hindered by anyone.
The Secretary to the Cabinet reiterated that government is in a hurry to take development closer to the people.
“We are in a hurry to take development to our people, and we should not be the hindrance,” Mr. Kangwa stated.
Mr. Kangwa has since urged government senior management and agencies to prioritise implementing decisions with immediate effect and also announced that updates on cabinet decision implementation would now be a regular part of future meetings.
During the meeting, Mr. Kangwa also acknowledged the unveiling of the 2026 K253.1 billion National Budget by the Minister of Finance and National Planning on September 26th.
He encouraged senior government officials to actively contribute to the successful implementation of the budget to ensure Zambia’s sustained economic progress.
Speaking at the same meeting, the Secretary to the Treasury, Felix Nkulukusa noted that the 2026 National budget is achievable and not just ambitious as others may claim.
Mr. Nkulukusa emphasised that the 2026 national budget is doable because the country is currently performing well, noting that the mainstay of the economy which is the mining sector will for the first time in 2026 achieve a one million production output.
He added that the agriculture sector was also the best performing by breaking the record of highest production.
Mr. Nkulukusa added that from the tourist sector with over 2 million tourists, among other well performing sectors are indicators that the budget can be achieved.
“It is not over ambitious, it can be done but it calls for concerted efforts at all levels for the budget to be achieved,” he noted.
