Gary Nkombo

Gary Chilala Nkombo (born 1 March 1965) is a Zambian politician and businessman. He served as the member of parliament from Mazabuka Central from 2006 to 2016. He served as the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development from September 2021 to March 2025.

Career Nkombo stood as the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy candidate in a by-election in Mazabuka Central in 1999 and he was not elected. He then stood as the Forum for Democracy and Development candidate in Mazabuka Central at the 2001 general election and he was not elected.

In August 2016 he was appointed Party Whip for the UPND.

In September 2021, Nkombo was appointed Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. 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.

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. Following his relief from the role of local government ministry, he explained that he had no hard feelings over the decision to drop him.

As of August 2025, Nkombo is the UPND's chairman of elections. On 28 March 2026, Nkombo was dismissed as the party chairman for elections and was replaced by Likando Mufalali.

In May 2026, Nkombo applied to defend his parliamentary position in Mazabuka Central constituency at the 2026 general election as an independent candidate after citizens went to his home to convince him to participate. He proceeded the following month to resign from the United Party for National Development (UPND) in order to complete his independent candidature. At the election, he came second to Vincent Lilanda (the UPND candidate) in Mazabuka Central.

Timeline Year (s) Position Area served Political Party 2006 - 2011Member of ParliamentMazabuka CentralUnited Party for National Development 2011 - 2016 2016 - 2021 2021 - 2026 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.

Personal life Nkombo was a teacher by profession, before becoming a politician and a businessman; he still maintains a small farm. He is married and has two sons and a daughter.