Overview
The National Infrastructure Policy provides a unified framework to guide Zambia’s infrastructure planning, delivery, and maintenance across economic and social sectors. It addresses gaps arising from fragmented investments, fiscal constraints, aging assets, and uneven service coverage. The policy aligns with Vision 2030, the Eighth National Development Plan, and regional frameworks such as SADC’s RIDMP. Key objectives include developing adequate and inclusive infrastructure, improving asset maintenance and management, ensuring climate resilience, enhancing quality through adherence to standards, promoting innovation and R&D, and mainstreaming gender, youth, and disability considerations. Priority areas span transport (road, rail, air, inland waterways), water and sanitation, waste management, tourism, ICT, housing, education, health, and recreation. Implementation is anchored in a Council of Ministers and led by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, with clear roles for sector ministries, the private sector, civil society, and cooperating partners. The framework emphasizes value for money, innovative financing including PPPs, strengthened coordination, legal and regulatory streamlining, and a monitoring and evaluation system.