With only two ministerial positions awaiting appointments, MakanDay explains why ministers must answer to parliament and how the Vice-President helped secure approval for President Hakainde Hichilema’s expanded government.
President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed 28 Cabinet ministers, leaving the ministries of Housing and Transport and Logistics without substantive ministers.
The appointments follow parliament’s approval of the President’s decision to increase the number of government ministries from 24 to 30, an increase by six.
But beyond running their ministries, what responsibilities do these ministers have in the national assembly?
Ministers must answer to parliamentA minister is not only responsible for overseeing a government ministry.
As a member of parliament, a minister must also account for government decisions and policies in the house.
For example, when a hospital runs out of essential medicines, MPs can question the Minister of Health about the shortages and what the government is doing to address them.
Similarly, the Minister of Agriculture may be asked about delayed farming inputs, while the Minister of Electricity may face questions about power shortages.
However, although ministers remain MPs, their role changes once they are appointed to Cabinet.
They cease asking parliamentary questions as backbench MPs do and instead become responsible for answering questions from other MPs and explaining government decisions.
Under the Standing Orders, ministers respond to parliamentary questions, present statements on matters within their portfolios and introduce government bills.
A minister may request permission from the Speaker to deliver a ministerial statement. The Speaker may also direct a minister to address the House on a matter of public interest.
Following such a statement, MPs can seek clarification, although they cannot debate the statement itself.
This process gives MPs an opportunity to demand explanations on behalf of the people they represent.What is the Vice-President’s role?
Before President Hichilema appointed most of his Cabinet, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango played a central role in securing parliamentary approval for the restructuring of government ministries.
On 27 October, she moved the motion seeking approval to establish, merge and dissolve ministries, paving the way for the expansion to 30.
The Vice-President has a special parliamentary responsibility as Leader of Government Business in the House.
According to the Standing Orders, this involves defending government policies, coordinating ministerial responses to parliamentary questions and ensuring that government bills and other business are brought before the national assembly.
The Vice-President also answers questions without prior notice during Vice-President’s Question Time.Importantly, the Standing Orders describe the Vice-President as the minister of last resort, providing a point of accountability where responsibility for a government matter is not otherwise clear.Why should this matter to you?
With the new Cabinet taking shape, ministers will be expected to explain their policies, spending decisions and progress in delivering public services.
Parliament’s approval of additional ministries also raises questions about their cost, staffing and whether the changes will improve services.
These are matters MPs can pursue through questions, debates and committee scrutiny.For ordinary Zambians, the test is not simply who has been appointed to Cabinet, but whether ministers provide answers and whether government decisions translate into better services.
A minister’s responsibility does not end with an appointment at State House. It extends to the national assembly, where government must account for its decisions.
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