Gary Nkombo
{{Short description|Zambian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Gary Nkombo
| imagesize =
| caption = Gary Nkombo in 2023
| image = Gary Nkombo in 2023.jpg
| children = 3
| spouse =
| death_place =
| death_date =
| birth_place = Mazabuka, Zambia
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|3|1|df=yes}}
| birth_name = Gary Chilala Nkombo
| alma_mater =
| order = Minister of Local Government and Rural Development
| term_start = 7 September 2021
| term_end = 28 March 2025
| order2 = Member of the National Assembly for Mazabuka Central
| constituency2 =
| term_start2 = 2006
| term_end2 =
| order3 =
| constituency3 =
| term_start3 =
| term_end3 =
| office4 =
| constituency4 =
| term_start4 =
| term_end4 =
| office5 =
| constituency5 =
| term_start5 =
| term_end5 =
| party = United Party for National Development
| predecessor = Vincent Mwale
| successor = Gift Sialubalo
| predecessor2 = Kabisa Nang'omba
}}
Gary Chilala Nkombo (born 1 March 1965) is a Zambian politician and businessman. He is Zambia's former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development from 2021 to 2025. {{cite web|last=Shalubala |first=Chamuka | date=10 February 2022 |publisher=News Diggers |location=Lusaka, Zambia |url=https://diggers.news/local/2022/02/10/nkombo-launches-cdf-guidelines/ |title = Nkombo Launches CDF Guidelines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221095432/https://diggers.news/local/2022/02/10/nkombo-launches-cdf-guidelines/ |archive-date=21 February 2025 |url-status=live }}
Career
Nkombo was first elected as an MP in the 2006 Zambian general election representing Mazabuka Central in the National Assembly as a member of the United Party for National Development (UPND). He was again elected MP in the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Zambian general elections.{{cite web| url=https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/82?page=1/ |title=Gary Nkombo Parliamentary History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127091235/https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/82?page=1/ |archive-date=27 November 2024 |url-status=live }}
In August 2016 he was appointed Party Whip for the UPND.{{Cite web|title=Gary G. Nkombo ~Party Whip |date=11 August 2016
|publisher=Parliament of Zambia |url=https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/5638 }}
In September 2021,{{cite web |title=Gary G Nkombo, Minister - Local Government and Rural Development (Sep-2021) |url=https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/9436 |website=National Assembly of Zambia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222200958/https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/9436 |archive-date=22 February 2025 |url-status=live }} Nkombo was appointed Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.{{cite web |url=https://diggers.news/local/2022/02/24/nkombo-updates-parley-on-status-of-42m-fire-trucks/ |title =Local Government and Rural Development Minister Gary Nkombo directed to issue a comprehensive ministerial statement |publisher=News Digger |date =24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225045649/https://diggers.news/local/2022/02/24/nkombo-updates-parley-on-status-of-42m-fire-trucks/ |archive-date=25 February 2022 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/minister-visits-his-former-prison-cell/ |title =Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Gary Nkombo visits former prison cell |date =25 January 2015 }} On Friday, 28 March 2025, Gary Nkombo was terminated from his appointment as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development by president Hakainde Hichilema for unspecified reasons.{{cite web |last=Tutu |first=Arnold |date=28 March 2025 |title=Gary Nkombo Dropped as Minister |website=ZNBC |url=https://znbc.co.zm/news/gary-nkombo-dropped-as-minister/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330141125/https://znbc.co.zm/news/gary-nkombo-dropped-as-minister/ |archive-date=30 March 2025 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|date=28 March 2025 |title=President Hichilema Axes Nkombo in Mysterious Cabinet Reshuffle |newspaper=Lusaka Times |URL=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2025/03/28/political-earthquake-president-hichilema-axes-nkombo-in-mysterious-cabinet-reshuffle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330141507/https://www.lusakatimes.com/2025/03/28/political-earthquake-president-hichilema-axes-nkombo-in-mysterious-cabinet-reshuffle/ |archive-date=30 March 2025 }}
Members of the UPND close to the president suggested that he was removed for corruption. However, others in the party recognized his growing influence especially with those who disagree with the current administration’s direction, and suggest that his removal was more political – removal of a potential rival to Hakainde Hichilema, the president.{{Cite news|last=Ngoma |first=Thandiwe Ketis |title=Gary Nkombo’s Firing: A Political Move, Not a Corruption Issue |date=29 March 2025 |newspaper=The Zambian Observer |url=https://zambianobserver.com/gary-nkombos-firing-a-political-move-not-a-corruption-issue-thandiwe-ketis-ngoma/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/6J6Ek?https://zambianobserver.com/gary-nkombos-firing-a-political-move-not-a-corruption-issue-thandiwe-ketis-ngoma/ |archive-date=30 March 2025 |url-status=live }}
Following his relief from the role of local government ministry , he explained that he had no hard feelings over the decision to drop him. https://diggers.news/local/2025/03/30/ive-accepted-my-dismissal-with-no-hard-feelings-i-remain-a-committed-upnd-member-gary/ I have accepted my dismissal with no hard feelings - Garry: News Diggers
| class="wikitable"
! Year (s) ! Position ! Area served ! Political Party |
| 2006 - 2011
|rowspan="4"|Member of Parliament |rowspan="4"|Mazabuka Central |rowspan="5"|United Party for National Development |
| 2011 - 2016 |
| 2016 - 2021 |
| 2021 - |
| 2021 - 2025
| Minister of Local Government and Rural Development | N/A |
Controversy
In 2022, Nkombo forced a woman brewing kachasu to drink it with her children. After a video circulated on social media, many people expressed disappointment in the minister. A few days later, he apologised to the family and was forgiven.{{cite news|last=Mvula |first=Steven |date=12 April 2015 |title=Nkombo apologises to 'Kachasu' distiller |newspaper=Zambia Daily Mail | url=http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/nkombo-apologises-to-kachasu-distiller/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518010345/http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/nkombo-apologises-to-kachasu-distiller/ |archive-date=18 May 2022 |url-status=dead }}
Personal life
Nkombo was a teacher by profession, before becoming a politician and a businessman. He is married and has two sons and a daughter.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}