Transformation of Public Administration in Zambia

Despite African countries such as Zambia having transformed public administration several times, they continue to experience the same socioeconomic challenges, such as poverty and inequality. This article discusses the changes in public administration in Zambia, highlighting the principles used and who benefited and lost from the transformation process. The article relied on secondary data sources. The findings show that three major approaches have been tried to transform Zambia’s public administration—traditional public administration, new public management and collaborative public management. Through these approaches, management principles such as centralisation, decentralisation, privatisation and service contracts have been implemented. In line with Marxist theory, the outcomes of the transformation process have benefited the ruling class at the expense of ordinary citizens, who include peasant farmers and workers. The article recommends that the delivery of public goods and services should be done by Civil Society Organisations, grant-aided cooperatives and single public-sector agencies.