HH KEEPS INNER CIRCLE
…reappoints his core seven-member advisory team to drive Zambia’s ambitious second-term agenda
By DAVID KANDUZA
IN the quiet corridors of the Office of the President State House, where the heavy scent of polished mahogany meets the high-stakes murmur of national governance, continuity remains the order of the day.
In a move that signals stability above all else, President Hakainde Hichilema has chosen to retain the very inner circle that steered his administration through its first chapter, reappointing his core seven-member presidential advisory team.
The announcement, delivered through a formal press statement by State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka, arrived at a symbolic moment. Weeks after securing a second consecutive mandate in the August elections, and while the nation watches a highly deliberate, measured rollout of the full Cabinet.
President Hichilema is sending a clear message to international markets and local observers alike: the engine room of the presidency will not alter its rhythm.
Invoking the executive powers vested in him under Article 92 (2) (e) and (f) of the Constitution of Zambia, the Head of State put his pen to paper to lock in the familiar gatekeepers of his administration.
Returning to the top administrative slot is Bradford Machila, who resumes his vital role as Principal Private Secretary, anchoring the day-to-day operations of the presidency.
Christopher Mundia steps back into the fold as Special Assistant for Legal Affairs, ensuring the administration’s policy shifts remain tightly anchored within constitutional boundaries, while Joseph Lungu retains his post as Special Assistant for Policy Compliance.
The critical portfolios balancing national security, developmental pacing, and political survival also remain untouched.
Dr Lawrence Mwananyanda continues to oversee Projects Implementation Monitoring and National Security, a dual-hatted role vital to keeping the State’s massive infrastructure goals protected.
Levy Ngoma, a seasonal political hand, returns as Special Assistant for Political Affairs to manage the delicate internal dynamics of a newly re-elected ruling party.
Most telling, however, is the preservation of the economic brain trust.
As Zambia transitions from a gruelling era of debt default management into the aggressive wealth-creation metrics of its ‘Grow Zambia’ agenda, Pamela Nakamba stays on as Special Assistant for Economic Affairs.
Flanking her is Jito Kayumba, who continues as Special Assistant for Finance and Investments.
Together, they are the tech-forward, numbers-driven duo tasked with unlocking billions in foreign direct investment and turning the blueprint of the administration’s economic goals into real, tangible prosperity for everyday citizens.
For an administration facing mounting public curiosity over its minimalist approach to setting up a full ministerial Cabinet, this move solidifies the power centre at State House.
It reflects a President who trusts his immediate vanguard—a team tested by years of intense economic negotiations, drought response protocols, and policy overhauls.
Congratulating his aides, President Hichilema offered his best wishes and called for a renewed sense of divine guidance and duty as they returned to their stations.
The personnel remained unchanged, the desks are the same, but the stakes for this second term have never been higher.
State House had its trusted hands back on the wheel, and the journey forward continues without a pause.