https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOGRESS <p><strong>Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science</strong> (<strong>ISSN: 2454-1834</strong>) aims to publish high quality papers in all areas of ‘Education and Social Science’. This journal considers following <a href="https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOGRESS/about/submissions">types of papers </a>(<a href="https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOGRESS/about/submissions">Link</a>). The journal also encourages the submission of useful reports of negative results. This is a peer-reviewed, open access INTERNATIONAL journal. This journal follows OPEN access policy. All published articles can be freely downloaded from the journal website.</p> International Knowledge Press en-US Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science 2454-1834 https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOGRESS/article/view/9054 <p>The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in Zambia plays a pivotal role in enhancing local governance, facilitating rural development, and promoting sustainable socioeconomic progress. This study examines the implementation of the Ministry’s mandate in Kabwe District, focusing on its governance structures, institutional dynamics, and decentralization practices. Using Public Administration, Decentralization, Good Governance, Institutional, Development, and Political Ecology theories as analytical frameworks, the research investigates how effectively the MLGRD fulfills its responsibilities. The study employs literature review of other scholars to assess the Ministry's operational efficiency, policy implementation, and community impact. Key findings reveal challenges such as limited institutional capacity, resource constraints, and the influence of political dynamics, which hinder effective service delivery and rural development initiatives. The review highlights the need for enhanced institutional frameworks, participatory governance mechanisms, and strategic resource allocation to strengthen the Ministry’s performance. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on decentralization and local governance in Zambia, offering actionable recommendations for improving policy and practice. This study underscores the critical role of the MLGRD in driving equitable and sustainable development at the local level, with Kabwe District serving as a microcosm of broader national challenges and opportunities.</p> Evance Moses Silumbwe Mpundu Mubanga Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s). The licensee is the journal publisher. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 2025-01-16 2025-01-16 19 1 1 27 10.56557/jogress/2025/v19i19054