Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 17th March, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has launched a comprehensive reassessment of the National Productivity Policy (NPP) in a bid to strengthen Zambia’s economic resilience and competitiveness in line with evolving labour market demands and global trends.
Introduced in 2021, the NPP was designed to stimulate growth by fostering enterprise-level productivity, raising national productivity consciousness, supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and promoting community engagement. However, the Ministry has now identified the need for strategic recalibration to address gaps that have emerged from changes in national development priorities, evolving socio-economic challenges, and the increasing influence of digital transformation and climate change.
Key areas of focus in this review include strengthening institutional capacity for policy implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as increasing the adoption of modern productivity tools and practices across both public and private sectors.
Speaking at the official launch of the review process in Kafue, the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Social Security, Mr. Zechariah Luhanga, called on technocrats from the Ministry’s National Productivity Development Department (NPDD), along with key stakeholders, to deliver a progressive, action-oriented policy that will reverse the declining trend in national productivity growth.
Mr. Luhanga also underscored the importance of introducing a robust legal framework to anchor productivity measurement and accountability mechanisms. He tasked the NPDD to develop a draft policy that is both efficient and cost-effective, in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive to maximize outcomes with prudent resource utilization.
“I expect this process to set a precedent of efficiency and deliver a revised policy by the end of the second quarter, creating a model that can be replicated across other national initiatives,” Mr. Luhanga stated.
The Ministry’s proactive approach signals Zambia’s commitment to adapting its productivity framework to modern realities, ensuring that national development efforts remain responsive, sustainable, and inclusive.
The Agency.