4th Cabinet Meeting

The President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, called for the 4th Cabinet Meeting in the Year 2024, on Wednesday, 28th February, 2024, at State House to deliberate on policy and legislation matters aimed at developing the country.

Cabinet, apart from the serious debate and decision thereafter, on the prolonged drought situation the country is going through, also made the following decisions:

1. Legislative Matters:

Cabinet, considering that the February sitting of Parliament is meant to approve the Bills passed by the Executive, the following legislative matters were approved:

(a) The Lands Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Cabinet approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting, a Bill entitled “The Lands Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2024.”

The objectives of this Bill are to amend the Lands Tribunal Act No. 39 of 2010, in order to provide for the establishment of a principal registry and regional registry; and the appointment of an Assistant Registrar.

Currently, the Lands Tribunal only has one registry situated in Lusaka.  This has proved to be a huge challenge for litigants who reside outside Lusaka and intend to commence their matters in the Lands Tribunal.  This has, invariably resulted in delays in access to justice by citizens.  Additionally, the current staff of the Lands Tribunal are inadequate in meeting the demands occasioned by the rise of land disputes.

(b) The Zambia Qualifications Authority Bill, 2024.

Another Bill Cabinet approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting is entitled “The Zambia Qualifications Authority Bill, 2024.”

The objectives of this Bill, among others, are to repeal the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 13 of 2011, so as to continue the existence of the Zambia Qualifications Authority and re-define its functions; provide for the development and implementation of a National Qualifications Framework; provide for the registration of qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework; and constitute the Board of the Zambia Qualifications Authority and re-define its functions.

The Zambia Qualifications Authority Act, No. 13 of 2011, is inadequate in dealing with issues relating to qualifications, therefore, there is need to repeal the Act in order to strengthen the framework and enforcement mechanism of the law relating to the approval of local and foreign qualifications, and to align the law with international best practice.

(c) The Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Cabinet also approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting, a Bill entitled “The Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Bill, 2024.”

The objective of this Bill is to amend the Matrimonial Causes Act, 2007, so as to revise the grounds on which a marriage is considered to be void.  The Matrimonial Causes Act, 2007, is inconsistent with the provisions of the Children’s Code Act, 2022, in relation to recognising child marriage.  Therefore, there is need to amend the Matrimonial Causes Act in order to align it with the provisions of the Children’s Code Act, 2022, which prohibit child marriage, as well as the Marriage Act, as amended by the Marriage (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 2023, which also renders a marriage between persons, either of whom is a child, as void.

Furthermore, there is need to align the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 2007 with the Constitution of Zambia in order to provide clarity on the definition of a child as defined under Article 266.

(d) The Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Cabinet also approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting, a Bill entitled “The Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (Amendment) Bill, 2024.”  The object of the Bill is to amend the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education Act Cap. 49, so as to revise the functions of the Council of the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education.

The amendment to the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education Act Cap. 49, is necessitated by the enactment of the Judicial Training Institute of Zambia Act No. 14 of 2023, which establishes the Judicial Training Institute of Zambia, whose functions include, providing and developing judicial education and professional training for judges, judicial officers and judicial staff.

Currently, the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education Act Cap. 49 of the Laws of Zambia, empowers the Council of the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education to provide post-graduate judicial training for Magistrates and Judges.

(e) Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Cabinet also approved in principle the amendment of the Civil Aviation Act No. 5 of 2016, in order to comply with the Chicago Convention and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices (SRPs).

The proposed amendments will enhance Zambia’s safety oversight, prevent aircraft accident and improve investigation capabilities in line with the Chicago Convention and ICAO standards and recommended practices.

(f) Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Another matter approved by Cabinet in principle is the amendment of the Civil Aviation Authority Act No. 7 of 2012, so as to comply with the Chicago Convention and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices (SRPs).

The Civil Aviation Authority Act No. 7 of 2012 is inadequate in dealing with the many aspects of aviation safety standards and security.

Like the case is with the amendment of the Civil Aviation Act number 5 of 2016, the amendment to the Civil Aviation Authority Act will enhance Zambia’s safety oversight and aircraft accident and incident investigation capabilities in line with the Chicago Convention and ICAO standards and recommended practices.

2. Hosting of the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka, 2024.

Cabinet approved the hosting of the mining and investment conference, dubbed, the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka, 2024 (ZMII 2024), to be held in September, 2024, under the theme “Mining Beyond Copper.”

The hosting of the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka, will provide a definitive platform for Government and stakeholders to come together and engage on various pertinent issues affecting the sector with a view to arriving at amicable solutions favourable to all parties.  The Conference will also support Government’s diversification agenda from copper to other minerals and this will also support the National Geological Mapping Programme Government is implementing in line with the Eighth National Development Plan.

Further, the expected benefits of the Insaka also include increased investment in mining generally, with increased employment opportunities created as well as increased Government revenue.

3. Commemoration of the 2024 National Youth Week.

Cabinet also deliberated on the need for the country to join the youths, who are an important section of the Zambian population in terms of development, to be joined in commemorating this year’s National Youth Week, as Zambia shall be celebrating 60 years of peace and harmony as Zambia remains a beacon of peace within the region, at continental level and beyond.

The 2024 National Youth Week will be commemorated from 5th to 12th March, 2024 and the main activities planned to be undertaken include the Launch of the National Youth Week on 5th March, 2024; Youth Careers Fair on 6th March, 2024; Youth Community Service on 7th March, 2024; National Youth Indaba, at which the National Youth Policy will be officially launched on 9th March, 2024.

To sum up all the activities for the Youth Week, the country will finally commemorate the Youth Day on 12th March, 2024.

Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, MP

MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND MEDIA AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON