Lusaka, Zambia – March 28, 2025 In a decisive and unexpected move, President Hakainde Hichilema has terminated the appointment of Hon. Gary Nkombo as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. The terse statement issued by State House this evening, invoking Article 270 of the Constitution of Zambia, provided no substantive justification for the dismissal of one of the administration’s prominent figures, immediately triggering intense speculation among political observers and stakeholders.
The announcement, delivered with clinical efficiency, followed the familiar script of such terminations: a perfunctory thank-you for services rendered, a swift naming of a successor (Sinazongwe MP Hon. Gift Sialubalo), and a conspicuous absence of detail. But in Zambian politics, where every word carries weight, the silence was deafening.
“When State House doesn’t furnish a reason, it’s deliberate,” remarked a veteran UPND strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This wasn’t a routine reshuffle. Something precipitated this.”
Multiple sources within the ruling party and cabinet corridors suggest that Nkombo’s ouster may be linked to what one insider described as “unsettled political ambitions.” The former minister, a long-standing UPND stalwart, had reportedly been quietly cultivating influence beyond his portfolio a move interpreted in some quarters as laying the groundwork for a future presidential bid.
“He was holding meetings, building alliances, and some interpreted this as positioning,” revealed a senior UPND figure. “In our system, that’s often seen as a challenge to the throne.”
Nkombo’s recent public remarks on decentralization and local governance,topics central to his ministry had also raised eyebrows. While framed as policy discussions, some allies of the president viewed them as veiled critiques of the administration’s pace of reform.
The timing is notable. With the UPND still consolidating power after its 2021 victory, internal cohesion remains a priority. Analysts suggest Hichilema may be sending a clear message: loyalty is non-negotiable.
“This is classic preemptive politics,” said Dr. Lorraine Chibwe, a political scientist at the University of Zambia. “Remove a potential rival early, before they gain traction. The question is whether this stabilizes the party or fuels dissent.”
For now, Nkombo remains an MP, retaining a platform in the National Assembly. But his political trajectory is now uncertain. Will he attempt reconciliation, or could this mark the beginning of a more confrontational path? Opposition parties are already circling, sensing an opportunity to exploit UPND fractures.
Meanwhile, incoming minister Gift Sialubalo a relatively low-profile figure faces immediate pressure to prove his mettle in a role previously held by a seasoned operator.
State House’s silence on the rationale invites speculation: Were there undisclosed performance issues? A scandal avoided? Or is this purely political housekeeping?
What’s clear is that in Zambia’s high-stakes political arena, no position is safe and ambition, real or perceived, can be a career-ending gamble.
As the dust settles, one truth emerges: Behind every sudden termination, there’s always a backstory. And in this case, Lusaka’s rumor mill is already working overtime.
There are two reasons I can think of.
To start with, this has nothing to do with corruption fight, because people who headed ministries with the most corruption – kapala and masebo – were only transferred when they were exposed.
Now for Nkombo, it’s either:
1. He refused to support the manipulation of the constitution
2. He is a potential rival. Nkombo is the only UPND minister who has a huge following within UPND and some level of respectebility in people in opposition.
It’s all part of HH desperation tonensure he has no challenger for the presidency.
And so,you even take a beer after satisfying and convincing yourself about your imagination.Stop jerking on yourself,find a girl
Ba Mwata ubufi! Nkombo is the only …yakuti? Where did you do a research to prove this? In Nkombo’s bar jaunts?
@muZambian….mate, your mind is dirty as a sewer. Sorry to say that. But your response stinks of a filthy mind. Am utterly disgusted that you have to spew such vile imagery. Find God. I ordinarily wouldn’t respond to a adhominen attacks, but I had to call out you disgusting filthy mind.
@Tandy jisi i did say these were two possible reasons I could think of. I didn’t say it’s 100% the case. But we are have minds and we can examine facts and patterns and come to reasonable conclusions. You are free to disagree and come up with your own conclusions.
@muZambian….mate, your mind is dirty as a sewer. Sorry to say that. But your response stinks of a filthy mind. Am utterly disgusted that you have to spew such vile imagery. Find God. I ordinarily wouldn’t respond to a adhominen attacks, but I had to call out you disgusting filthy mind.
@Tandy jisi i did say these were two possible reasons I could think of. I didn’t say it’s 100% the case. But we are have minds and we can examine facts and patterns and come to reasonable conclusions. You are free to disagree and come up with your own conclusions. But I think my post will age very well.
As members of the Honorable’s family, we are asking for privacy and when dust has settled, we will update the nation. So far, we are all affected and the honorable hasn’t eaten or talked to anyone yet. He has been in his room all day- crying. Prayers, please!
Interesting times, is Mungagwa about to do an “Bashar al-Assad ” to Dubai?
Ka Mwata
Kapala and Masebo were only transferred “when they were exposed”!?
..Jerking
This was NOT A RESHUFFLE!. It was just an axing of one Minister. A reshuffle involves more than two ministers
If the insinuations in this story are true, wouldn’t it further entrench sentiments that UNPD is a tribal party. I wonder whether Garry Nkombo who I consider a sensible and popular UPND politician would want to take over the reigns of the party. I’m sure Garry knows that it would be the end of UPND if he had to become the next party president.
Kiikikikiki! Patriot politicians don’t think like that. They’re all ambitious
President HH has been too slow to act. The appointing authority has always known that Nkombo was a threat, which is why he was given a junior ministry.
From the beginning, Nkombo was never satisfied with his portfolio, despite the hard work he put in during the August 2021 elections.
It is a shame that President HH is only now realizing that Nkombo was sabotaging his government.
Slow ka?HH swings his boot too late even the minister who was bribed by the Chinese can confirm this. This firing should have been immediately after the forcefeeding of Kachasu on a minor.
@Neo Patriot
I agree with you 100%….how can they prove that UPND is not a tribal party if another Southerner takes over…..the only problem is that Politicians operate in secrecy so we will never know exactly why he was fired just like Collins Barry
House on fire which is simmering, some bellows of smoke starting to sip out, whole structure may soon crumble.
Perfect move by HH to remove a hypocrite money hungry and ego centric liability from UPND.
Has Mazabuka and Southern Province run out of even better and more practical intelligent people for anyone to worry of twenty years of Nkombo reign that have yielded ZERO VISIBLE DEVELOPMENT? WAKE UP!! These are GRZ portfolios open to every capable Zambian and not just a few one-eyed kings amongst the blind. Great move!!
Is this the beginning of crack in the New dawn?
Politicians only work for themselves and their families….all over the world even here in America…Trump is working for himself and his family…..Not for America….HH is only working for HH….he can’t fire Masebo or Reuben Mutolo or Kabuswe because these corrupt Ministers are eating on the same plate with HH…Nkombo maybe wanted to challenge HH in 2026…
President Nkombo??? Yayi! He was just a chongololo on campus. Always aspiring to be a MOJO around October but flopping! Kikikiki!
Imwe ba LT if Lusaka’s rumor mill is working overtime what is it saying? Otherwise don’t mention it as you are just raising dust. And what makes you call Nkombo a “seasoned” operator when he has never held any portfolio in his life? Who in this suckling government is seasoned? They are all four years old or under 5. Ba Chibwe naimwe you say “Remove a potential rival early, before they gain traction” Is this early sure?. Talakishoni Ali nayo kale Nkombo.
Mwazaula ba LT! Many landmines in this article. Just look at the inttro “In a decisive and unexpected move……” What makes this a decisive move…..? When, as you say, it “provided no substantive justification for the dismissal of one of the administration’s prominent figures? “Opposition parties are already circling” How did you see them circling? The article mentions no opposition sentiments. “Multiple sources within the ruling party” yet you only cite one. ,
Kabimba and Sata
Kikikikiki and gullible praise singers still think that HH fought to become President so that he can develop Zambia…HH is busy developing his own business empire…NOT ZAMBIA
Tebufi
Yeah don’t forget Mopani Mine. Kabuswe has failed to explain
A huge mistake by the president for firing Nkombo
Nkombo definitely tested the presidential loyalty department…..…
FED2031
@Spaka
So you haven’t been given any appointment in HH” s cabinet…..how do you earn a living
I’m mostly retired. Early retirement.
FWD2031
He is the only Tonga who has been denied a post
@Spaka
Am glad you have retired…..early retirement if you are able to sustain yourself is the best
Am also considering early retirement…my body needs to rest….
Thank God am not a Politician and i will never be a Politician
Our Constitution is very clear…2 × 5 year terms….it can be less but no more than 10 years…
Mr./Ms Anonymous, be4 you retire your body on the floor, please note that there are NO 2×5 year terms in Zambia, coy that wouold mean 5 terms of two years each!
Otherwise, the rest of your contribution is fine. GOD BLESS US ALL.
YES YES YES A potential alternative for 2026
Now I too can enjoy my retirement 🙂
Politicians will always be politicians, tomorrow you’ll hear that he has been given a bigger post ..
He was talking about YOUTH PARTICIPATION but what does he do? He replaces a relatively young Garry Nkombo with a great grandfather.
He was talking about unit so I expected him to replace Garry Nkombo with one of them Kawambwa/Pambashe MPs…but but….
The man has no ethics. No ideology Except when you see money…….steal it!
Why replace a young man with a stone ager?
Surely you can see it’s about securing ones future security
Stone agers are easy to bully since they are already scared of your gunpower-and they only have stones and arrows.
Its either HH is playing mingalato or he is now panicking…if HH loses power in 2026 he will end up in Jail….100%
Why ?
I can guarantee, HH is not that dumb to steal , he knows what’s coming……
He can only be jailed for jailing thieves
FWD2031
HH I feel is a decent moral person as said before
But he is not in control of his GRZ
I reaaly he is a one term president
even conelius mwitwa should be fired for confirming that the upnd was sending chishimba kambwili to talk about tribal politics, we are praying for Garry nkombo to stop from forcing people to drink kachasu
silviour masebo should be fired also from this upnd government for hiding 71 containers of medicine when there is no medicine in hospitals and clinics ,too much scandals these crocks
She can’t be fired because of her Chieftainess.
even the minister of Energy should be fired for too much load shading when there is too much water due to heavy rains we have seen but this hh and upnd government is selling electricity to Namibia when us zambias are facing loadshading
In any sane and sober country the Minister of energy should have been axed. The country’s GDP will be gravely affected by his lack of intelligent action. How are industries coping? What is the plight of those farmers who rely on irrigation for 365 days production?
hh has been doing political mingalato to the opposition and now he is extending his mingalato to upnd members , please Garry Nkombo my mp don’t drink doom for this disapointment to you
by hh , better you drink kachasu that you force people to drink .
paipa pano bally fires kachasu man Garry Nkombo insteady of working on this bad economy , high cost of living , poor kwacha against dollar loadshading etc .
too much scandals in upnd government are now forcing our president to fire his ministers
I blame those who have been talking about Garry Nkombo as next president of Upnd. HH doesn’t like competition even when he’s in his grave he will not want anyone to succeed him.
Is that why he let go of over-ambitious GBM?
mr president please fire all your ministers , they are all corrupt and heartless ministers and it is scandal after scandal , better you remain alone than being with daylight thieves like silviour masebo and others
HH Is responsble he is the head so if he cany control them bring in a leader who can
When a Corporate fails it’s not the staff that is fired but the head !!
even the one who was forced to drink kachasu by Garry nkombo can work better than these corrupt upnd ministers nowonder they are now being fired one by one by mr promiss
When we asked him to fire his ministers when it affected Zambians, he failed to act. It now effects his presidency and we have seen him crack a whip. A very insecure man who means and feels nothing for Zambia.
well done for firing garry nkombo but this is not enough , expel him from upnd because he is likely to bring more division in our party , remember that garry nkombo is a close friend of conelius mwitwa and jack mwimbu and they have come a long way together and even know the scandals of each other
PF/Tonse have unleashed trolls on this platform.Note new monikers that have joined the bandwagon posting senseless trash and following and thumbing up Dejafoool enmasse
Clever PF/Tonse!
u are right mr upnd die had , all upnd corrupt ministers should be fired for destroying the name of our party upnd , our party is finished and not attractive on the ground , we feel ashamed to say bally will fix it
Garry nkombo failing to eat , his BP is shooting up and he is avoiding facing journalist for questioning about his firing
A whispered voice says he’s not agreeing with tampering with the constitution. Hope not.
This one caught me with my pants half-way down with tissue in hand. WTF happened? Reading this from deep in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thats our HH AGREE WITH ME OR YOU OUT
Only HH and Gary Nkombo knows exactly why he was fired….people will just be speculating……
This Zambian scenario is like Donald Drumph firing his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in unclear circumstances.Politricks is a dirty game.
@ Mlevi kachasu
Politics is really nasty business…what Politicians scheme behind closed doors is exactly the opposite of what they say when the come to the Podium…in most cases they end up killing each other….Saulosi Chilima was plotting to challenge Chakwera in this years elections and now he is 6 feet underground
That’s no reshuffle
Donald Trump: the worst fool to rise to presidency. Not even I come close to that kid of empty tin.