Ministry of Tech Targets US$60 Billion Economy with New 2026 Strategic Structure
The Ministry of Technology and Science has initiated the development of its 2026 organisational structure in a strategic move aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing service delivery.
The reform process, aligned with national development priorities, seeks to improve efficiency, accountability, and the Ministry’s ability to respond to emerging technological and scientific advancements.
Speaking during the official opening, Permanent Secretary Eng. Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu emphasised that a well-defined and responsive structure is critical to delivering on the Ministry’s expanded mandate and supporting Zambia’s broader development goals.
He urged participants to prioritise institutional effectiveness over personal interests, cautioning against the creation of unjustified positions. He further stressed the importance of balancing workloads across departments to ensure optimal performance.
Dr. Habeenzu noted that since its establishment in September 2021, the Ministry’s scope has significantly expanded to include areas such as artificial intelligence, data protection, digital infrastructure, and innovation systems.
He said this evolution requires a modern and adaptive structure capable of driving Zambia’s ambition of becoming a US$60 billion economy by 2031.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted past challenges, including the impacts of COVID-19, economic constraints, and climate-related shocks, as key lessons underscoring the need for resilient institutional frameworks.
A review of the current structure revealed several challenges, including misalignment between functions and institutional design, capacity gaps in critical technical areas, and insufficient staffing levels. These constraints, he warned, limit the Ministry’s ability to effectively deliver on its mandate.
In response, the proposed structure aims to strengthen coordination across departments, enhance policy implementation, improve responsiveness to technological developments, and reinforce governance, monitoring, and evaluation systems.
Dr. Habeenzu also called for a broader approach to data governance, moving beyond protection to include effective data management for informed decision-making. He further emphasised the need to strengthen procurement systems to avoid delays and improve resource utilisation.
The proposed reforms will increase the Ministry’s workforce from 155 to 258 positions, at an estimated additional annual cost of K15.9 million. Despite the financial implications, he described the investment as necessary to improve institutional performance and support the successful implementation of government programmes.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to actively contribute to the process to ensure the development of a structure that reflects the Ministry’s evolving mandate and supports Zambia’s technological and economic transformation.
