The Ministry of Works and Supply is one of the Government Ministries expected to play a crucial role in the country’s socio-economic recovery programme aimed at improving the well-being of the Zambian people. Since 1991, when the Movement for Multiparty Democracy Government came into power, the general policy is for Government ministries and institutions to provide an enabling environment for active private sector participation in the direct provision of goods and services.  At the core of an enabling environment is the need to have a strong and sustainable socio-economic infrastructure, especially roads, bridges, dams, and various means of communication. Accordingly, the Ministry of Works and Supply is required to play mainly a facilitative role in the provision of socio-economic infrastructure and other services aimed at stimulating economic growth and development, particularly in the identified main economic growth sectors of tourism, agriculture and mining. 

In line with the Government’s general policy framework with respect to the roles of the Ministries in the country’s socio-economic development process and according to Government Statutory functions, portfolios and composition, the Ministry of Works and Supply is responsible for the following portfolio functions: -

• Buildings and construction industry policy;
• Government Housing policy, Offices and Buildings
• Office accommodation and maintenance services; and
• Construction and maintenance of roads;
• Control of Government Transport;
• Government Printing and Gazetting;
• Hostels and Rest Houses;
• Office Equipment Maintenance Services;
• Physical arrangements for State functions.

The Statutory Bodies/Institutions operating under the portfolio function of the Ministry of Works & Supply are:-

• Engineering Services Company(ESCO) (However, ESCO is  expected to be fully absorbed in the Roads Development Agency  by the end of the year);
• Hostels Board of Management
• National Council for Construction
• Roads Development Agency