About Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office is the highest administrative Office in Zambia with an overarching responsibility of superintending over the Public Service to achieve national strategic objectives espoused in national development plans. It is also responsible for the attainment of the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Service for the efficient administration and management of Government business, as well as promoting Gender Equity and Equality.
Our Mandate
We derive our mandate and functions from Article 176 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, Cap. 1 of the Laws of Zambia on the creation of the Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet and Government Gazette Notice No. 1123 of 2021 respectively. It operates directly under the Office of the President of the Republic of Zambia.
Our Vision:
We envision “A transformed and Smart Public Service.”
To realise this vision, we observe and uphold the following core values: confidentiality, transparency, integrity, accountability, excellence, team work and objectivity.
Our Mission Statement
We commit “To provide strategic leadership in the development and implementation of public policies and programmes for the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Service”.
Specific Functions
Our specific functions are provided for under the Office of the President Portfolio in the Government Gazette Notice No. 1123 of 2021. They are stipulated as:
- Civil Service Travel;
- Constitution of offices;
- Constitutional Matters;
- Decentralisation;
- Gender;
- Gender Based Violence;
- Gender Equity and Equality;
- National Coat of Arms and Flag Control;
- National Gender Policy;
- Public Service Management;
- Presidential Affairs;
- Provincial and District Administration
- Provincial and District Boundaries;
- State Visits and Functions
- Strategic and Performance Management Services; and
- Women Empowerment
Cabinet Office Management and Operational Structure
The Secretary to the Cabinet is the Head of the Public Service and is constitutionally charged with the responsibility of securing the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Public Service. The Secretary to the Cabinet is also the Chief Advisor to the President on administration and management of Government.
To enhance efficiency in the coordination of Government business for effective Public Service delivery, the Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet is supported by two Deputy Secretaries to the Cabinet. The two are designated to deal with specific matters of Government administration and management. Matters relating to general administration and management are handled by the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Administration), while matters hinging on finance and economic development are handled by the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Finance and Economic Development).
The Office is also supported by four (4) Permanent Secretaries heading the following Divisions:
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE CABINET
Mr. Patrick K Kangwa
Dr. Oliver M. Kalabo
Mr. Siazongo Siakalenge
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE CABINET
Cabinet Office is headed by the Secretary to the Cabinet who is supported by two Deputy Secretaries to the Cabinet. The Secretary to the Cabinet also receives support from Permanent Secretaries from all the Divisions under Cabinet Office.
The main functions of the Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet include the following:
- Ensuring that the Presidency is facilitated to perform ceremonial, constitutional and other national duties;
- Ensuring that the Former Presidents and families of the Former Presidents are well taken care of;
- To arrange for Cabinet meetings and the recording of Cabinet proceedings, writing minutes of meetings and drafting letters conveying Cabinet decisions to line Ministries for implementation;
- Ensuring that Cabinet decisions are translated into Government policies and programmes which should be effectively implemented by appropriate Public Service institutions;
- Spearheading the strategic vision of the Public Service and coordinating Government Ministries and Institutions as well as reforms with a view of improving public services;
- Monitoring and evaluating the overall performance of the Public Service;
- Overseeing ad-hoc Commissions of Inquiry and arbitrating appeals from contending Ministries and Agencies as well as performing functions that are not allocated to any Ministry; and
- Implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy