For a long time, the Government of Zambia has been trying to improve how the Public Service delivers services to citizens. Many reforms have been introduced since the early 1990s, but without a single, clear way to manage change, the results were not always as smooth as hoped.
To solve this, the Secretary to the Cabinet launched the Zambia Public Service Change Management Framework (ZPSCMF) and its Toolkit in February 2025. This provides a clear, structured way for all public offices to plan and carry out change.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), through Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute, was tasked with rolling out the Framework to all 116 Local Authorities. The first group of ten Change Agents from Mansa Municipal Council was trained from 2nd to 6th February 2026.
The programme aims to equip Local Authority officers with the knowledge and skills required to identify, manage, and sustain change initiatives within their institutions. Participants are undergoing intensive sessions covering the principles, processes, and practical application of the Framework to support institutional transformation and improved service delivery.
As part of this phased rollout, intensive training sessions are being conducted this week, from 13th to 17th July 2026, for the next cohort of Change Agents. The councils participating in this week’s programme are: Kaoma, Mpongwe, Mitete, Lukulu, Rufunsa, Mufumbwe, Lufwanyama, Mkushi. Chinsali Pemba and Kalabo So far, over 50 Local Authorities have successfully completed the training, demonstrating strong progress toward the target of equipping all 116 councils with the skills needed to drive institutional transformation and improve service delivery.
These councils are now applying the new Framework to improve service delivery, accountability, responsiveness, and operational efficiency. The remaining Local Authorities will follow in the coming weeks, ensuring that every council in Zambia adopts a consistent and effective approach to change.