PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY CABINET AT THE 19TH CABINET MEETING HELD ON 15TH OCTOBER, 2024.
The President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, called for the 19th Cabinet Meeting in the Year 2024, on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024, at State House, to deliberate on policy and legislative matters aimed at enhancing socio-economic development for the people.
Cabinet made the following decisions:
1. Legislative Matters – Bills approved for Publication and Introduction in Parliament:
(a) The Plant Health Bill, 2024.
Cabinet approved “The Plant Health Bill, 2024,” for publication and introduction in Parliament.
The objectives of this Bill include among others, to protect plant resources; provide for the registration of pest controllers and plant-related structures; and regulate imports and exports to prevent the introduction or spread of pests.
The implementation of the Bill shall improve Zambia’s ability to prevent and manage plant pests and diseases, which will safeguard agricultural productivity and plant health.
(b) The Zambia Institute of Quantity Surveyors Bill,2024.
“The Zambia Institute of Quantity Surveyors Bill, 2024,” was approved for publication and introduction in Parliament by Cabinet.
The objectives of this Bill include to, provide for the registration of quantity surveying professionals; quantity surveying organisations and quantity surveying units and regulate their practice and professional conduct.
Currently, the legal framework is not comprehensive in regulation to the conduct and practice of quantity surveying professionals. The Bill, once enacted, will result in the effective operation of the Zambia Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the effective delivery of services by quantity surveying professionals.
(c) The Green Economy and Climate Change Bill, 2024.
Cabinet also approved for publication and introduction in Parliament, “The Green Economy and Climate Change Bill, 2024.”
The objectives of this Bill are to provide for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; provide for climate change mitigation, low emission development, green economy and related actions; regulate carbon markets; and provide for environmental and social safeguards in climate change actions.
Currently, the regulatory framework on green economy and climate change is inadequate in responding to green economy and climate change issues in the country. The Bill, once enacted, will facilitate the effective implementation of green economy and climate change programmes in all sectors of the economy.
(d) The Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Another Bill approved for publication and introduction in Parliament is “The Local Authorities Superannuation Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The objectives of this Bill are to, revise the accrual rate of a retirement benefit and revise the commutation factors.
Currently, the Local Authorities Superannuation Fund Act Cap 284 of the Laws of Zambia, does not provide for a comprehensive legal framework to compute and pay benefits for retirees at 60 and 65 years.
The proposed Bill, once enacted, will enable the Local Authorities Superannuation Fund to accurately compute and pay retirement benefits for members retiring at 60 or 65 years and, therefore, ensuring that the retirement benefits align with the revised retirement age policy.
(e) The Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
During the same Meeting, Cabinet also approved “The Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024.”
The objectives of this Bill are to amend the Penal Code, so as to strengthen the law on the offence of expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for a person or group of persons; provide for the offence of stealing medicine, allied substances, medical supplies, medical equipment, critical information infrastructure and electronic communications apparatus; redefine the word “vandalism;” revise the penalties relating to vandalism; and make the possession, conveyance and receipt of vandalised property or material an offence.
(f) The Judiciary Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Cabinet also approved for publication and introduction in Parliament, “The Judiciary Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” in order to harmonise the Judiciary Administration Act of 2016, with the Judicial Training Institute of Zambia Act No. 14 of 2023.
Currently, the Judiciary Administration Act of 2016, empowers the Judicial Service Commission to make regulations with respect to training courses for the judicial service. However, with the enactment of the Judicial Training Institute of Zambia Act No. 14 of 2023, whose functions include providing and developing judicial education and professional training for judges, judicial officers and judicial staff, it has become necessary to amend the Judiciary Administration Act of 2016, so as to remove from the Judicial Service Commission, the power to make regulations relating to training courses in the Judicial Service.
The proposed Bill, once enacted, will ensure that the mandate to provide judicial education and professional training for judges, judicial officers and judicial staff, is solely vested in the Judicial Training Institute, thereby, avoiding a duplicity of functions between the Judicial Training Institute and the Judicial Service Commission.
2. Legislative Matters approved in Principle:
(a) Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Cabinet approved in principle, to the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Lands Act Cap 184 of the Laws of Zambia, in order to align the law to the National Lands Policy of 2021, allow for the use of information and communications technology in the delivery of services and to make the law more responsive to the needs of the people of Zambia.
The Lands Act is the Principal Act that guides land administration in Zambia, however, since its enactment in 1995, the Act has not had substantial review to respond to persistent and emerging challenges in land administration such as, an increase in unauthorised occupancy of land, leading to litigations, and in some instances, clashes between land invaders and rightful owners.
The proposed amendments will enhance equitable access to secure land rights for all, in a cost-effective way, for government and beneficiaries, reduce unauthorised occupancy, as well as improve Government’s fiscal position.
(b) The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Bill, 2024.
Cabinet also approved in principle, to the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to repeal the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Act Cap 154 of the Laws of Zambia, in order to designate the Corporation into a public service broadcaster which will, provide balanced, diverse, innovative and independent Broadcasting Services; inform, educate and entertain the public; and enhance revenue sources and accountability in fulfilling its mandate.
The repeal of the Act will also provide for enhanced public accountability; facilitate for alignment with other pieces of legislation and provide for the establishment of state-owned broadcasters, such as the Parliament TV and radio, ZANIS TV, Education TV, and LIMA radio.
(c) The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Bill, 2024.
During the same Meeting, Cabinet approved in principle, to the introduction of the Bill in Parliament to repeal the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act No. 17 of 2002, in order to provide for mechanisms that will strengthen the functions, administration and regulation of the broadcasting industry in Zambia and enhance professional, ethical and independence of the media industry.
Since 2002, a number of developments have taken place which have necessitated the proposed repeal of the current Act. Some of the major developments include advancements in technology, the need for comprehensive and consolidated legislation and alignment with other pieces of legislation.
3. Legislative Matters – Statutory Instrument:
The Insurance (Tribunal) Rules, 2024.
Cabinet approved the issuance of the Insurance (Tribunal) Rules, 2024, in order to operationalise the ad hoc Insurance Tribunal, which was established under the Insurance Act of 2021.
It is necessary to issue the rules, as without them, the Tribunal would remain inoperative which would have the effect of depriving a person, aggrieved by a decision of the Pensions and Insurance Authority to exercise their right of appeal.
The Insurance Act No. 38 of 2021, establishes the ad hoc Insurance Tribunal. However, the Tribunal cannot be put into operation as there are no rules to govern the procedure that the Tribunal will follow in presiding over appeals against the Authority’s decision.
Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
19th October, 2024