CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA, 1991

(Amended to 1996)
Table of Contents
Part I-National Sovereignty and State

Part II-Citizenship

Part III-Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual

Part IV-The Executive

Part V-The Legislature

Part VI-The Judicature

Part VII-Defence and National Security

Part VIII-Local Government System

Part IX-Directive Principles of State Policy and the Duties of a Citizen

Part X-Finance

Part XI-Service Commissions

Part XII-Human Rights Commission

Part XIII-Chiefs and House of Chiefs

Part XIV-Miscellaneous

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PREAMBLE
(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

WE, THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA by our representatives,

assembled in our Parliament, having solemnly resolved
to maintain Zambia as a Sovereign Democratic Republic;

DETERMINED to uphold and exercise our inherent and

inviolable right as a people to decide, appoint and
proclaim the means and style to govern ourselves;

RECOGNISE the equal worth of men and women in their

rights to participate, and freely determine and build a
political, economic and social system of their own free
choice;

PLEDGE to ourselves that we shall ensure that the State

shall respect the rights and dignity of the human
family, uphold the laws of the State and conduct the
affairs of the State in such manner as to preserve,
develop, and utilise its resources for this and future
generations;

DECLARE the Republic a Christian nation while upholding

the right of every person to enjoy that person’s
freedom of conscience or religion;

RESOLVE to uphold the values of democracy,

transparency, accountability and good governance;

AND FURTHER RESOLVE that Zambia shall forever remain a

unitary, indivisible, multi-party and democratic
sovereign state;

DO HEREBY ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS

CONSTITUTION.

PART I
NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND STATE
(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 1
Declaration of Republic, sovereignty of people, supreme
law and official language

(1) Zambia is a unitary, indivisible, multi-party and

democratic sovereign State.

(2) All power resides in the people who shall exercise

their sovereignty through the democratic institutions
of the State in accordance with the Constitution.

(3) This Constitution is the supreme law of Zambia and

if any other law is inconsistent with this constitution
that other law shall, to the extent of the
inconsistency, be void.

(4) This Constitution shall bind all persons in the

Republic of Zambia and all Legislative, Executive and
Judicial organs of the State at all levels.

(5) The official language of Zambia shall be English.

Article 2
Public Seal

The Public Seal of the Republic shall be such as may be

prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

Article 3
National Anthem, National Flag, National Emblem and
National Motto

The National Anthem, the National Flag, the National

Emblem and the National Motto shall be such as may be
prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.
PART II
CITIZENSHIP

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 4
Citizens of Zambia

(1) Every person who immediately before the

commencement of this Constitution was a citizen of
Zambia shall continue to be a citizen of Zambia after
the commencement of this Constitution.

(2) A person who was entitled to citizenship of Zambia

before the commencement of this Constitution subject to
the performance of any conditions following the
happening of a future event, shall become a citizen
upon the performance of such conditions.

Article 5
Children of citizens of Zambia

A person born in or outside Zambia after the

commencement of this Constitution shall become a
citizen of Zambia at the date of his birth if on that
date at least one of his parents is a citizen of
Zambia.

Article 6
Persons entitled to apply to be registered as Citizens

(1) Any person who—

(a) has attained the age of twenty-one years; or

(b) has been ordinarily resident in Zambia for a

continuous period of not less than ten years
immediately preceding that person’s application for
registration;
shall be entitled to apply to the Citizenship Board, in
such manner as may be prescribed by or under an Act of
Parliament, to be registered as a citizen of Zambia.

(2) An application for registration as a citizen under

this Article shall not be made by or on behalf of any
person who, under any law in force in Zambia, is
adjudged or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.

(3) Parliament may provide that any period during which

a person has the right to reside in Zambia by virtue of
a permit issued under the authority of any law relating
to immigration shall not be taken into account in
computing the period of ten years referred to in
paragraph (b) of clause (1).

Article 7
Powers of Parliament

Parliament may make provision for—

(a) the acquisition of citizenship of Zambia by persons

who are not eligible to become citizens of Zambia under
this Part;

(b) depriving any person of his citizenship of Zambia:

Provided that a person shall not be deprived of their

citizenship except on the grounds that—

(i) that person is a citizen of a country other than

Zambia; or

(ii) that person obtained such citizenship by fraud.

Article 8
Citizenship Board
Parliament may make provision for the establishment of
a Citizenship Board to deal with any of the matters
falling under the provisions of Articles 6 or 7.

Article 9
Cesser of Citizenship

(1) A person shall cease to be a citizen of Zambia if

that person—

(a) acquires the citizenship of a country other than

Zambia by a voluntary act, other than marriage; or

(b) does any act indicating that person’s intention to

adopt or make use of any other citizenship.

(2) A person who—

(a) becomes a citizen of Zambia by registration; and

(b) immediately after becoming a citizen of Zambia, is

also a citizen of some other country;

shall, subject to clause (4), cease to be a citizen of

Zambia at the expiration of three months after such
person becomes a citizen of Zambia unless such person
has renounced the citizenship of that other country,
taken the oath of allegiance and made and registered
such declaration of their intention concerning
residence as may be prescribed by or under an Act of
Parliament.

(3) For the purpose of this Article, where, under the

law of a country other than Zambia, a person cannot
renounce his citizenship of that other country that
person need not make such renunciation but may instead
be required to make such declaration concerning that
citizenship as may be prescribed by or under an Act of
Parliament.
(4) Provision may be made by or under an Act of
Parliament for extending the period within which any
person may make a renunciation of citizenship, take
oath or make or register a declaration for the purpose
of this Article, and if such provision is made that
person shall cease to be a citizen of Zambia only if at
the expiration of the extended period that person has
not then made the renunciation, taken the oath or made
or registered the declaration, as the case may be.

Article 10
Interpretation

(1) For the purpose of this Part, a person born aboard

a registered ship or aircraft, or aboard an
unregistered ship or aircraft of the Government of any
country, shall be deemed to have been born in the place
in which the ship or aircraft was registered or in that
country, as the case may be.

(2) Any reference in this Part to the national status

of the parent of a person at the time of the birth of
that person shall, in relation to a person born after
the death of his parent, be construed as a reference to
the national status of the parent at the time of the
parent’s death.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared

that a person born in Zambia before the 1st of April,
1986, whose father was an established resident shall
continue to enjoy the rights and privileges, under, and
shall remain subject to, the law prevailing immediately
before that date.

PART III
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
Article 11
Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

It is recognised and declared that every person in

Zambia has been and shall continue to be entitled to
the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual,
that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of
origin, political opinions, colour, creed, sex or
marital status, but subject to the limitations
contained in this Part, to each and all of the
following, namely:

(a) life, liberty, security of the person and the

protection of the law;

(b) freedom of conscience, expression, assembly,

movement and association;

(c) protection of young persons from exploitation;

(d) protection for the privacy of his home and other

property and from deprivation of property without
compensation;

and the provisions of this Part shall have effect for

the purpose of affording protection to those rights and
freedoms subject to such limitations designed to ensure
that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by
any individual does not prejudice the rights and
freedoms of others or the public interest.

Article 12
Protection of Right to Life

(1) No person shall be deprived of his life

intentionally except in execution of the sentence of a
court in respect of a criminal offence under the law in
force in Zambia of which he has been convicted.
(2) No person shall deprive an unborn child of life by
termination of pregnancy except in accordance with the
conditions laid down by an Act of Parliament for that
purpose.

(3) Without prejudice to any liability for a

contravention of any other law with respect to the use
of force in such cases; as are hereinafter mentioned, a
person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of
his life in contravention of this Article if he dies as
a result of the use of force to such extent as is
reasonably justifiable in the circumstances of the
case—

(a) for the defence of any person from violence or for

the defence of property;

(b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent

the escape of a person lawfully detained;

(c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot,

insurrection, mutiny or if he dies as a result of a
lawful act of war;

(d) in order to prevent the commission by that person

of a criminal offence.

Article 13
Protection of Right to Personal Liberty

(1) No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty

except as may be authorised by law in any of the
following cases:

(a) in execution of a sentence or order of a court,

whether established for Zambia or some other country,
in respect of a criminal offence or which he has been
convicted;
(b) in execution of an order of a court of record
punishing him for contempt of that court or of a court
inferior to it;

(c) in execution of an order of a court made to secure

the fulfilment of any obligation imposed on him by law;

(d) for the purpose of bringing him before a court in

execution of an order of a court;

(c) upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed,

or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the
law in force in Zambia;

(f) under an order of a court or with the consent of

his parent or guardian, for his education or welfare
during any period ending not later than the date when
he attains the age of eighteen years;

(g) for the purpose of preventing the spread of an

infectious or contagious disease;

(h) in the case of a person who is, or is reasonably

suspected to be, of unsound mind, addicted to drugs or
alcohol, or a vagrant, for the purpose of this care or
treatment or the protection of the community;

(i) for the purpose of preventing the unlawful entry of

that person into Zambia, or for the purpose of
effecting the expulsion, extradition or other lawful
removal of that person from Zambia or for the purpose
of restricting that person while he is being conveyed
through Zambia in the course of his extradition or
removal as a convicted prisoner from one country to
another; or

(j) to such extent as may be necessary in the execution

of a lawful order requiring that person to remain
within a specified area within Zambia or prohibiting
him from being within such area, or to such extent as
may be reasonably justifiable for the taking of
proceedings against that person relating to the making
of any such order, or to such extent as may be
reasonably justifiable for restraining that person
during any visit that he is permitted to make to any
part of Zambia in which, in consequence of any such
order, his presence would otherwise be unlawful.

(2) Any person who is arrested or detained shall be

informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a
language that he understands, of the reasons for his
arrest or detention.

(3) Any person who is arrested or detained—

(a) for the purpose of bringing him before a court in

execution of an order of a court; or

(b) upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed,

or being about to commit, a criminal offence under the
law in force in Zambia;

and who is not released, shall be brought without undue

delay before a court; and if any person arrested or
detained under paragraph (b) is not tried within a
reasonable time, then, without prejudice to any further
proceedings that may be brought against him, he shall
be released either unconditionally or upon reasonable
conditions, including in particular such conditions as
are reasonably necessary to ensure that he appears at a
later date for trial or for proceedings preliminary to
trial.

(4) Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained

by any other person shall be entitled to compensation
therefor from that other person.

Article 14
Protection from Slavery and Forced Labour

(1) No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.

(2) No person shall be required to perform forced

labour.

(3) For the purpose of this Article, the expression

“forced labour” does not include—

(a) any labour required in consequence of a sentence or

order of a court;

(b) labour required of any person while he is lawfully

detained that, though not required in consequence of a
sentence or order of a court, is reasonably necessary
in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of
the place at which he is detained;

(c) any labour required of a member of a disciplined

force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the
case of a person who has conscientious objections to
service as a member of a naval, military or air force,
any labour that that person is required by law to
perform in place of such service;

(d) any labour required during any period when the

Republic is at war or a declaration under Article 30 or
31 is in force or in the event of any other emergency
or calamity that threatens the life and well-being of
the community, to the extent that the requiring of such
labour is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances
of any situation arising or existing during that
period, or as a result of that other emergency or
calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that
situation; or
(e) any labour reasonably required as part of
reasonable and normal communal or other civic
obligation.

Article 15
Protection from Inhuman Treatment

No person shall be subjected to torture, or to inhuman

or degrading punishment or other like treatment.

Article 16
Protection from Deprivation of Property

(1) Except as provided in this Article, no property of

any description shall be compulsorily taken possession
of, and no interest in or right over property of any
description shall be compulsorily acquired, unless by
or under the authority of an Act of Parliament which
provides for payment of adequate compensation for the
property or interest or right to be taken possession of
or acquired.

(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of

any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of clause (1) to the extent that it is
shown that such law provides for the taking possession
or acquisition of any property or interest therein or
right thereover—

(a) in satisfaction of any tax, rate or due;

(b) by way of penalty for breach of any law, whether

under civil process or after conviction of an offence;

(c) in execution of judgements or orders of courts;

(d) upon the attempted removal of the property in

question out of or into Zambia in contravention of any
law;
(e) as an incident of a contract including a lease,
tenancy, mortgage, charge, pledge or bill of sale or of
a title deed to land;

(f) for the purpose of its administration, care or

custody on behalf of and for the benefit of the person
entitled to the beneficial interest therein;

(g) by way of the vesting of enemy property or for the

purpose of the administration of such property;

(h) for the purpose of—

(i) the administration of the property of a deceased

person, a person of unsound mind or a person who has
not attained the age of eighteen years, for the benefit
of the persons entitled to the beneficial interest
therein;

(ii) the administration of the property of a person

adjudged bankrupt or a body corporate in liquidation,
for the benefit of the creditors of such bankrupt or
body corporate and, subject thereto, for the benefit of
other persons entitled to the beneficial interest in
the property;

(iii) the administration of the property of a person

who has entered into a deed of arrangement for the
benefit of his creditors; or

(iv) vesting any property subject to a trust in persons

appointed as trustees under the instrument creating the
trust or by a court or, by order of a court, for the
purpose of giving effect to the trust;

(i) in consequence of any law relating to the

limitation of actions;
(j) in terms of any law relating to abandoned,
unoccupied, unutilised or undeveloped land, as defined
in such law;

(k) in terms of any law relating to absent or non-

resident owners, as defined in such law, of any
property;

(l) in terms of any law relating to trusts or

settlements;

(m) by reason of the property in question being in a

dangerous state or prejudicial to the health or safety
of human beings, animals or plants;

(n) as a condition in connection with the granting of

permission for the utilisation of that or other
property in any particular manner;

(o) for the purpose of or in connection with the

prospecting for or exploitation of, minerals belonging
to the Republic on terms which provide for the
respective interests of the persons affected;

(p) in pursuance of a provision of the marketing of

property of that description in the common interests of
the various persons otherwise entitled to dispose of
that property;

(q) by way of the taking of a sample for the purposes

of any law;

(r) by way of acquisition of the shares, or a class of

shares, in a body corporate on terms agreed to by the
holders of not less than nine-tenths in value of those
shares or that class of shares;

(s) where the property consists of an animal, upon its

being found trespassing or straying;
(t) for so long as may be necessary for the purpose of
any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in
the case of the land, the carrying out thereon—

(i) of work for the purpose of the conservation of

natural resources or any description; or

(ii) of agricultural development or improvement which

the owner or occupier of the land has been required,
and has without reasonable and lawful excuse refused or
failed, to carry out;

(u) where the property consists of any licence or

permit;

(v) where the property consists of wild animals

existing in their natural habitat or the carcasses of
wild animals;

(w) where the property is held by a body corporate

established by law for public purposes and in which no
moneys have been invested other than moneys provided by
Parliament;

(x) where the property is any mineral, mineral oil or

natural gases or any rights accruing by virtue of any
title or licence for the purpose of searching for or
mining any mineral, mineral oil or natural gases—

(i) upon failure to comply with any provision of such

law relating to the title or licence or to the exercise
of the rights accruing or to the development or
exploitation of any mineral, mineral oil or natural
gases; or

(ii) in terms of any law vesting any such property or

rights in the President;
(y) for the purpose of the administration or
disposition of such property or interest or right by
the President in implementation of a comprehensive land
policy or of a policy designed to ensure that the
statute law, the Common Law and the doctrines of equity
relating to or affecting the interest in or rights over
land, or any other interests or right enjoyed by Chiefs
and persons claiming through and under them, shall
apply with substantial uniformity throughout Zambia;

(z) in terms of any law providing for the conversion of

titles to land from freehold to leasehold and the
imposition of any restriction on subdivision,
assignment or sub-letting;

(aa) in terms of any law relating to—

(i) the forfeiture or confiscation of the property of a

person who has left Zambia for the purpose or apparent
purpose, of defeating the ends of justice;

(ii) the imposition of a fine on, and the forfeiture or

confiscation of the property of, a person who admits a
contravention of any law relating to the imposition or
collection of any duty or tax or to the prohibition or
control of dealing or transactions in gold, currencies,
or securities.

(3) An Act of Parliament such as is referred to in

clause (1) shall provide that in default of agreement,
the amount of compensation shall be determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction.

Article 17
Protection for Privacy of Home and Other Property

(1) Except with his own consent, no person shall be

subjected to the search of his person or his property
or the entry by others on his premises.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of
any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this Article to the extent that it is
shown that the law in question makes provision—

(a) that is reasonably required in the interests of

defence, public safety, public order, public morality,
public health, town and country planning, the
development and utilisation of mineral resources, or in
order to secure the development or utilisation of any
property for a purpose beneficial to the community;

(b) that is reasonably required for the purpose of

protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons;

(c) that authorises an officer or agent of the

Government, a local government authority or a body
corporate established by law for a public purpose to
enter on the premises or anything thereon for the
purpose of any tax, rate or due or in order to carry
out work connected with any property that is lawfully
on those premises and that belongs to that Government,
authority, or body corporate, as the case may be; or

(d) that authorises, for the purpose of enforcing the

judgement or order of a court in any civil proceedings,
the search of any person or property by order of a
court or entry upon any premises by such order;

and except so far as that provision or, as the case may

be, anything done under the authority thereof is shown
not to be reasonably justified in a democratic society.

Article 18
Provisions to Secure Protection of Law

(1) If any person is charged with a criminal offence,

then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be
afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an
independent and impartial court established by law.

(2) Every person who is charged with a criminal

offence—

(a) shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved

or has pleaded guilty;

(b) shall be informed as soon as reasonably

practicable, in a language that he understands and in
detail, of the nature of the offence charged;

(c) shall be given adequate time and facilities for the

preparation of his defence;

(d) shall unless legal aid is granted him in accordance

with the law enacted by Parliament for such purpose be
permitted to defend himself before the court in person,
or at his own expense, by a legal representative of his
own choice;

(e) shall be afforded facilities to examine in person

or by his legal representative the witnesses called by
the prosecution before the court, and to obtain the
attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses
to testify on his behalf before the court on the same
conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the
prosecution; and

(f) shall be permitted to have without payment the

assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand
the language used at the trial of the charge;

and except with his own consent the trial shall not
take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself
as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his
presence impracticable and the court has ordered him to
be removed and the trial to proceed in his absence.
(3) When a person is tried for any criminal offence,
the accused person or any person authorized by him in
that behalf shall, if he so requires and subject to
payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by
law, be given within a reasonable time after judgment a
copy for the use of the accused person of any record of
the proceedings made by or on behalf of the court.

(4) No person shall be held to be guilty of a criminal

offence on account of any act or omission that did not,
at the time it took place, constitute such an offence,
and no penalty shall be imposed for any criminal
offence that is severer in degree or description that
the maximum penalty that might have been imposed for
that offence at the time it was committed.

(5) No person who shows that he has been tried by a

competent court for a criminal offence and either
convicted or acquitted shall again be tried for that
offence or for any other criminal offence of which he
could have been convicted at the trial for that
offence, except upon the order of a superior court in
the course of appeal or review proceedings relating to
the conviction or acquittal.

(6) No person shall be tried for a criminal offence if

he shows that he has been pardoned for that offence.

(7) No person who is tried for a criminal offence shall

be compelled to give evidence at the trial.

(8) No person shall be convicted of a criminal offence

unless that offence is defined and the penalty is
prescribed in a written law:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall prevent a

court of record from punishing any person for contempt
of itself notwithstanding that the act or omission
constituting the contempt is not defined in written law
and the penalty therefore is not so prescribed.

(9) Any court or other adjudicating authority

prescribed by law for the determination of the
existence or extent of any civil right or obligation
shall be established by law and shall be independent
and impartial; and where proceedings for such a
determination are instituted by any person before such
a court or other adjudicating authority, the case shall
be given a fair hearing within a reasonable time.

(10) Except with the agreement of all the parties

thereto, all proceedings of every court and proceedings
for the determination of the existence or extent of any
civil right or obligation before any other adjudicating
authority, including the announcement of the decision
of the court or other authority, shall be held in
public.

(11) Nothing in clause (10) shall prevent the court or

other adjudicating authority from excluding from the
proceedings persons other than the parties thereto and
their legal representatives to such extent as the court
or other authority—

(a) may consider necessary or expedient in

circumstances where publicity would prejudice the
interest of justice or in interlocutory proceedings; or

(b) may be empowered by law to do in the interest of

defence, public safety, public order, public morality,
the welfare of persons under the age of eighteen years
or the protection of the private lives of persons
concerned in the proceedings.

(12) Nothing contained in or done under the authority

of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of—
(a) paragraph (a) of clause (2) to the extent that it
is shown that the law in question imposes upon any
person charged with a criminal offence the burden of
proving particular facts;

(b) paragraph (d) of clause (2) to the extent that it

is shown that the law in question prohibits legal
representation before a subordinate court in
proceedings for an offence under Zambian customary law,
being proceedings against any person who, under that
law, is subject to that law;

(c) paragraph (c) of clause (2) to the extent that it

is shown that the law in question imposes reasonable
conditions that must be satisfied if witnesses called
to testify on behalf of an accused person are to be
paid their expenses out of public funds;

(d) clause (2) to the extent that it is shown that the

law provides that—

(i) where the trial of any person for any offence

prescribed by or under the law has been adjourned and
the accused, having pleaded to the charge, fails to
appear at the time fixed by the court for the
resumption of his trial after the adjournment, the
proceedings may continue notwithstanding the absence of
the accused if the court, being satisfied that, having
regard to all the circumstances of the case, it is just
and reasonable so to do, so orders; and

(ii) the court shall set aside any conviction or

sentence pronounced in the absence of the accused in
respect of that offence if the accused satisfies the
court without undue delay that the cause of his absence
was reasonable and that he had a valid defence to the
charge;
(e) clause (2) to the extent that it is shown that the
law provides that a trial of a body corporate may take
place in the absence of any representative of the body
corporate upon a charge in respect of which a plea of
not guilty has been entered by the court;

(f) clause (5) to the extent that it is shown that the

law in question authorises a court to try a member of a
disciplined force for a criminal offence
notwithstanding any trial and conviction or acquittal
of that member under the disciplinary law of that
force, so, however, that any court so trying such a
member and convicting him shall in sentencing him to
any punishment take into account any punishment awarded
him under that disciplinary law.

(13) In the case of any person who is held in lawful

detention, clause (1), paragraphs (d) and (e) of clause
(2) and clause (3) shall not apply in relation to his
trial for a criminal offence under the law regulating
the discipline of persons held in detention.

(14) In its application to a body corporate clause (2)

shall have effect as if the words “in person or” were
omitted from paragraph (d) and (e).

(15) In this Article “criminal offence” means a

criminal offence under the law in force in Zambia.

Article 19
Protection of Freedom of Conscience

(1) Except with his own consent, no person shall be

hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of conscience,
and for the purposes of this Article the said freedom
includes freedom of thought and religion, freedom to
change his religion or belief, and freedom, either
alone or in community with others, and both in public
and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion
or belief in worship, teaching, practice and
observance.

(2) Except with his own consent, or, if he is a minor,

the consent of his guardian, no person attending any
place of education shall be required to receive
religious instruction or to take part in or attend any
religious ceremony or observance if that instruction,
ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than
his own.

(3) No religious community or denomination shall be

prevented from providing religious instruction for
persons of that community or denomination in the course
of any education provided by the community or
denomination or from establishing and maintaining
institutions to provide social services for such
persons.

(4) No person shall be compelled to take any oath which

is contrary to his religion or belief or to take any
oath in a manner which is contrary to his religion or
belief.

(5) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of

any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this Article to the extent that it is
shown that the law in question makes provision which is
reasonably required—

(a) in the interests of defence, public safety, public

order, public morality or public health; or

(b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and

freedoms of other persons, including the right to
observe and practice any religion without the
unsolicited intervention of members of any other
religion:
and except so far as that provision or, the thing done
under the authority thereof as the case may be, is
shown not to be reasonably justified in a democratic
society.

Article 20
Protection of Freedom of Expression

(1) Except with his own consent, no person shall be

hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression,
that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without
interference, freedom to receive ideas and information
without interference, freedom to impart and communicate
ideas and information without interference, whether the
communication be to the public generally or to any
person or class of persons, and freedom from
interference with his correspondence.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution no

law shall make any provision that derogates from
freedom of the press.

(3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of

any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this Article to the extent that it is
shown that the law in question makes provision—

(a) that is reasonably required in the interests of

defence, public safety, public order, public morality
or public health; or

(b) that is reasonably required for the purpose of

protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of
other persons or the private lives of persons concerned
in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of
information received in confidence, maintaining the
authority and independence of the courts, regulating
educational institutions in the interests of persons
receiving instruction therein, or the registration of,
or regulating the technical administration or the
technical operation of, newspapers and other
publications, telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless
broadcasting or television; or

(c) that imposes restrictions on public officers;

and except so far as that provision or, the thing done

under the authority thereof as the case may be, is
shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic
society.

Article 21
Protection of Freedom of Assembly and Association

(1) Except with his own consent, no person shall be

hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of assembly
and association, that is to say, his right to assemble
freely and associate with other persons and in
particular to form or belong to any political party,
trade union or other association for the protection of
his interests.

(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of

any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this Article to the extent that it is
shown that the law in question makes provision—

(a) that is reasonably required in the interests of

defence, public safety, public order, public morality
or public health;

(b) that is reasonably required for the purpose of

protecting the rights or freedoms of other persons;

(c) that imposes restrictions upon public officers; or

(d) for the registration of political parties or trade

unions in a register established by or under a law and
for imposing reasonable conditions relating to the
procedure for entry on such register including
conditions as to the minimum number of persons
necessary to constitute a trade union qualified for
registration;

and except so far as that provision or, the thing done

under the authority thereof as the case may be, is
shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic
society.

Article 22
Protection of Freedom of Movement

(1) Subject to the other provision of this Article and

except in accordance with any other written law, no
citizen shall be deprived of his freedom of movement,
and for the purposes of this Article freedom of
movement means—

(a) the right to move freely throughout Zambia;

(b) the right to reside in any part of Zambia; and

(c) the right to leave Zambia and to return to Zambia.

(2) Any restrictions on a person’s freedom of movement

that relates to his lawful detention shall not be held
to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this
Article.

(3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of

any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this Article to the extent that it is
shown that the law in question makes provision—

(a) for the imposition of restrictions that are

reasonably required in the interests of defence, public
safety, public order, public morality or public health
or the imposition or restrictions on the acquisition or
use by any person of land or other property in Zambia,
and except so far as that provision or, the thing done
under the authority thereof, as the case may be, is
shown not be reasonably justifiable in a democratic
society;

(b) for the imposition of restrictions on the freedom

of movement of any person who is not a citizen of
Zambia;

(c) for the imposition of restrictions upon the

movement or residence within Zambia of public officers;
or

(d) for the removal of a person from Zambia to be tried

outside Zambia for a criminal offence or to undergo
imprisonment in some other country in execution of the
sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence
under the law in force in Zambia of which he has been
convicted.

Article 23
Protection from Discrimination on the Ground of Race,
etc.

(1) Subject to clauses (4), (5) and (7), no law shall

make any provision that is discriminatory either of
itself or in its effect.

(2) Subject to clauses (6), (7) and (8), no person

shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any
person acting by virtue of any written law or in the
performance of the functions of any public office or
any public authority.

(3) In this Article the expression “discriminatory”

mean, affording different treatment to different
persons attributable, wholly or mainly to their
respective descriptions by race, tribe, sex, place of
origin, marital status, political opinions colour or
creed whereby persons of one such description are
subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which
persons of another such description are not made
subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which
are not accorded to persons of another such
description.

(4) Clause (1) shall not apply to any law so far as

that law makes provision—

(a) for the appropriation of the general revenues of

the Republic;

(b) with respect to persons who are not citizens of

Zambia;

(c) with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce,

burial, devolution of property on death or other
matters of personal law;

(d) for the application in the case of members of a

particular race or tribe, of customary law with respect
to any matter to the exclusion of any law with respect
to that matter which is applicable in the case of other
persons; or

(e) whereby persons of any such description as is

mentioned in clause (3) may be subjected to any
disability or restriction or may be accorded any
privilege or advantage which, having regard to its
nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those
persons or to persons of any other such description, is
reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.

(5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be

inconsistent with or in contravention of clause (1) to
the extent that it is shown that it makes reasonable
provision with respect to qualifications for service as
a public officer or as a member of a disciplined force
or for the service of a local government authority or a
body corporate established directly by any law.

(6) Clause (2) shall not apply to anything which is

expressly or by necessary implication authorized to be
done by any such provision or law as is referred to in
clause (4) or (5).

(7) No thing contained in or done under the authority

of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of this Article to the extent that it is
shown that the law in question makes provision whereby
persons of any such description as is mentioned in
clause (3) may be subjected to any restriction on the
rights and freedoms guaranteed by Articles 17, 19, 20,
21 and 22, being such a restriction as is authorised by
clause (2) of Article 17, clause (5) of Article 19,
clause (2) of Article 20, clause (2) of Article 21 or
clause (3) of Article 22, as the case may be.

(8) Nothing in clause (2) shall affect any discretion

relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance
of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is
vested in any person by or under this Constitution or
any other law.

Article 24
Protection of Young Persons from Exploitation

(1) No young person shall be employed and shall in no

case be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation
or employment which would prejudice his health or
education or interfere with his physical, mental or
moral development:
Provided that an Act of Parliament may provide for the
employment of a young person for a wage under certain
conditions.

(2) All young persons shall be protected against

physical or mental ill-treatment, all forms of neglect,
cruelty or exploitation.

(3) No young person shall be the subject of traffic in

any form.

(4) In this Article “young person” means any person

under the age of fifteen years.

Article 25
Derogation from Fundamental Rights and Detention

Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any

law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of Articles 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22,
23, or 24 to the extent that it is shown that the law
in question authorises the taking, during any period
when the Republic is at war or when a declaration under
Article 30 is in force, of measures for the purpose of
dealing with any situation existing or arising during
that period; and nothing done by any person under the
authority of any such law shall be held to be in
contravention of any of the said provisions if it is
shown that the measures taken were, having due regard
to the circumstances prevailing at the time, reasonably
required for the purpose of dealing with the situation
in question.

Article 26
Provisions Relating to Restriction and Detention

(1) where a person’s freedom of movement is restricted,

or he is detained, under the authority of any such law
as is referred to in Article 22 or 25, as the case may
be, the following provisions shall apply—

(a) he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable and in

any case not more than fourteen days after the
commencement of his detention or restriction, be
furnished with a statement in writing in a language
that he understands specifying in detail the grounds
upon which he is restricted or detained;

(b) not more than fourteen days after the commencement

of his restriction or detention a notification shall be
published in the Gazette stating that he has been
restricted or detained and giving particulars of the
place of detention and the provision of law under which
his restriction or detention is authorised;

(c) if he so requests at any time during the period of

such restriction or detention not earlier than three
months after the commencement thereof or after he last
made such a request during that period, as the case may
be, his case shall be reviewed by an independent and
impartial tribunal established by law and presided over
by a person, appointed by the Chief Justice, who is or
is qualified to be a judge of the High Court;

(d) he shall be afforded reasonable facilities to

consult a legal representative of his own choice who
shall be permitted to make representations to the
authority by which the restriction or detention was
ordered or to any tribunal established for the review
of his case; and

(e) at the hearing of his case by such tribunal he

shall be permitted to appear in person or by a legal
representative of his own choice.

(2) On any review by a tribunal under this Article, the

tribunal shall advise the authority by which it was
ordered on the necessity or expediency of continuing
his restriction or detention and that authority shall
be obliged to act in accordance with any such advice.

(3) The President may at any time refer to the tribunal

the case of any person who has been or is being
restricted or detained pursuant to any restriction or
detention order.

(4) Nothing contained in paragraph (d) or (e) of clause

(1) shall be construed as entitling a person to legal
representation at public expense.

(5) Parliament may make or provide for the making of

rules to regulate the proceedings of any such tribunal
including but without derogating from the generality of
the foregoing, rules as to evidence and the
admissibility thereof, the receipt of evidence
including written reports in the absence of the
restricted or detained person and his legal
representative, and the exclusion of the public from
the whole or any portion of the proceedings.

(6) Clauses (11) and (12) or Article 18 shall be read

and construed subject to the provisions of this
Article.

Article 27
Reference of Certain Matters to Special Tribunal

(1) Whenever—

(a) a request is made in accordance with clause (2) for

a report on a bill or statutory instrument; or

(b) the Chief Justice considers it necessary for the

purpose of determining claims for legal aid in respect
of proceedings under Article 30 or 31;
the Chief Justice shall appoint a tribunal which shall
consist of two persons selected by him from amongst
persons who hold or have held the office of a judge of
the Supreme Court or the High Court.

(2) A request for a report on a bill or a statutory

instrument may be made by not less than thirty members
of the National Assembly by notice in writing
delivered—

(a) in the case of a bill, to the Speaker within three

days after the final reading of the bill in the
Assembly.

(b) in the case of a statutory instrument, to the

authority having power to make the instrument within
fourteen days of the publication of the instrument in
the Gazette.

(3) Where a tribunal is appointed under this Article

for the purpose of reporting on a bill or a statutory
instrument, the tribunal shall, within the prescribed
period, submit a report to the President and to the
Speaker of the National Assembly stating—

(a) in the case of a bill, whether or not in the

opinion of the tribunal any, and if so which,
provisions of the bill are inconsistent with this
Constitution;

(b) in the case of a statutory instrument, whether or

not in the opinion of the tribunal any, and if so
which, provisions of the instrument are inconsistent
with this Constitution;

and, if the tribunal reports that any provision would

be or is inconsistent with this Constitution, the
grounds upon which the tribunal has reached that
conclusion.
Provided that if the tribunal considers that the
request for a report on a bill or statutory instrument
is merely frivolous or vexatious, it may so report to
the President without entering further upon the
question whether the bill or statutory instrument would
be or is inconsistent with this Constitution.

(4) In determining any claim for legal aid as referred

to in clause (2), the tribunal may grant to any person
who satisfies it that—

(a) he intends to bring or is an applicant in

proceedings under clause (1) or (4) of Article 28;

(b) he has reasonable grounds for bringing the

application; and

(c) he cannot afford to pay for the cost of the

application;

a certificate that the application is a proper case to

be determined at public expenses:

Provided that paragraph (c) shall not apply in any case

where the application relates to the validity or a
provision of law in respect of which the tribunal has
reported that it would be or is inconsistent with this
Constitution or where it appears to the tribunal that
issues are or will be raised in the application which
are of general importance.

(5) Where a certificate is granted to any person by the

tribunal in pursuance of clause (4), there shall be
paid to that person out of the general revenues of the
Republic such amount as the tribunal, when hearing the
application, may assess as the costs incurred by that
person in connection with the application; and the sums
required for making such payment shall be a charge on
the general revenue of the Republic.

(6) For the purposes of clause (5)—

(a) the costs incurred in an application shall include

the cost of obtaining the advice of a legal
representative and, if necessary, the cost of
representation by a legal representative in any court
in steps preliminary or incidental to the application;

(b) in assessing the costs reasonably incurred by a

person in an application regard shall be had to costs
awarded against that person or recovered by him in
those proceedings.

(7) In this Article, “prescribed period” means—

(a) in relation to a bill, the period commencing from

the appointment of the tribunal to report upon the bill
and ending thirty days thereafter or if the Speaker, on
the application of the tribunal considers that owing to
the length or complexity of the bill thirty days is
insufficient for consideration of the bill, ending on
such later day as the Speaker may determine;

(b) in relation to a statutory instrument, the period

of forty days commencing with the day on which the
instrument is published in the Gazette.

(8) Nothing in clause (1), (2) or (3) shall apply to a

bill for the appropriation of the general revenues of
the Republic or a bill containing only proposals for
expressly altering this Constitution or the
Constitution of Zambia Act, 1991.

Article 28
Enforcement of Protective Provisions
(1) Subject to clause (5), if any person alleges that
any of the provisions of Articles 11 to 26 inclusive
has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in
relation to him, then, without prejudice to any other
action with respect to the same matter which is
lawfully available, that person may apply for redress
to the High Court which shall—

(a) hear and determine any such application;

(b) determine any question arising in the case of any

person which is referred to it in pursuance of clause
(2);

and which may, make such order, issue such writs and
give such directions as it may consider appropriate for
the purpose of enforcing, or securing the enforcement
of, any of the provisions of Articles 11 to 26
inclusive.

(2) (a) If in any proceedings in any subordinate court

any question arises as to the contravention of any of
the provisions of Articles 11 to 26 inclusive, the
person presiding in that court may, and shall if any
party to the proceedings so requests, refer the
question to the High Court unless, in his opinion the
raising of the question is merely frivolous or
vexatious.

(b) Any person aggrieved by any determination of the

High Court under this Article may appeal therefrom to
the Supreme Court:

Provided that no appeal shall lie from a determination

of the High Court under this Article dismissing an
application on the ground that it is frivolous and
vexatious.
(3) No application shall be brought under clause (1) on
the grounds that the provisions of Articles 11 to 26
(inclusive) are likely to be contravened by reason of
proposals contained in any bill which, at the date of
the application, has not become a law.

(4) Parliament may confer upon the Supreme Court or

High Court such jurisdiction or powers in addition to
those conferred by this Article as may appear to be
necessary or desirable of the purpose of enabling that
Court more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction
conferred upon it by this Article or of enabling any
application for redress to be more speedily determined.

Article 29
Declaration of War

(1) The President may, in consultation with Cabinet, at

any time, by Proclamation published in the Gazette
declare war.

(2) A declaration made under clause (1) shall continue

in force until the cessation of hostilities.

(3) An Act of Parliament shall provide for the

conditions and circumstances under which a declaration
may be made under clause (1).

Article 30
Declaration of Public Emergency

(1) The President may, in consultation with Cabinet, at

any time, by Proclamation published in the Gazette
declare that a State of public emergency exists.

(2) A declaration made under clause (1) of this Article

shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a
period of seven days commencing with the day on which
the declaration is made unless, before the expiration
of such period, it has been approved by a resolution of
the National Assembly supported by a majority of all
the members thereof not counting the Speaker.

(3) In reckoning any period of seven days for the

purposes of clause (2) no account shall be taken of any
time during which Parliament is dissolved.

(4) A declaration made under clause (1) may, at any

time before it has been approved by a resolution of the
National Assembly, be revoked by the President by
Proclamation published in the Gazette.

(5) Subject to clause (6) a resolution of the National

Assembly under clause (2) will continue in force until
the expiration of a period of three months commencing
with the date of its being approved or until revoked at
such earlier date of its being so approved or until
such earlier date as may be specified in the
resolution.

Provided that the National Assembly may, by majority of

all the members thereof, not counting the Speaker
extend the approval of the declaration for periods of
not more than three months at a time.

(6) The National Assembly may, by resolution, at any

time revoke a resolution made by it under this Article.

(7) Whenever an election to the office of President

results in a change of the holder of that office, any
declaration made under this Article and in force
immediately before the day on which the President
assumes office shall cease to have effect on the
expiration of seven days commencing with that day.

(8) The expiration or revocation of any declaration or

resolution made under this Article shall not affect the
validity of anything previously done in reliance on
such declaration.

Article 31
Declaration Relating to Threatened Emergency

(1) The President may at any time by the Proclamation

published in the Gazette declare that a situation
exists which, if it is allowed to continue may lead to
a state of public emergency.

(2) A declaration made under clause (1) of this Article

shall cease to have effect on the expiration of a
period of seven days commencing with the day on which
the declaration is made unless, before the expiration
of such period, it has been approved by a resolution of
the National Assembly supported by a majority of all
the members thereof not counting the Speaker.

(3) In reckoning any period of seven days for the

purpose of clause (2) no account shall be taken of any
time during which Parliament is dissolved.

(4) A declaration made under clause (1), may, at any

time before it has been approved by a resolution of the
National Assembly, be revoked by the President by
Proclamation published in the Gazette.

(5) Subject to clause (6) a resolution of the National

Assembly under clause (2) shall continue in force until
the expiration of a period of three months commencing
with the date of its being approved or until revoked on
an earlier date of its being so approved or until such
earlier date as may be specified in the resolution.

(6) The National Assembly may by resolution, at any

time revoke a resolution made by it under this Article.
(7) Whenever an election to the office of President
results in a change in the holder of that office, any
declaration made under this Article and in force
immediately before the day on which the President
assumes office, shall cease to have effect on the
expiration of seven days commencing with that day.

(8) The expiration or revocation of any declaration or

resolution made under this Article shall not affect the
validity of anything previously done in reliance on
such declaration.

Article 32
Interpretation and Savings

(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise

requires—

“contravention”, in relation to any requirement,

includes a failure to comply with that requirement and
cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“court” means any court of law having jurisdiction in

Zambia, other than a court established by a
disciplinary law, and in Articles 12 and 14 includes a
court established by a disciplinary law;

“disciplinary law” means a law regulating the

disciplined force;

“disciplined force” means—

(a) a naval, military or air force;

(b) the Zambia Police Force; or

(c) any other force established by or under an Act of

Parliament;
“legal representative” means a person entitled to
practise in Zambia as an advocate;

“member”, in relation to a disciplined force, includes

any person who, under the law regulating the discipline
of that force is subject to that discipline.

(2) In relation to any person who is a member of a

disciplined force raised under the law of Zambia,
nothing contained in or done under the authority of the
disciplinary law of that force shall be held to be
inconsistent with or in contravention of any of the
provisions of this Part other than Articles 12, 14, and
15.

(3) In relation to any person who is a member of a

disciplinary force raised otherwise than as aforesaid
and lawfully present in Zambia, nothing contained in or
done under the authority of the disciplinary law of
that force shall be held to be inconsistent with or in
contravention of any of the provisions of this part.

PART IV
THE EXECUTIVE

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 33
The Office of President

(1) There shall be a President of the Republic of

Zambia who shall be the Head of State and of the
Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence
Force.

(2) The executive power of the Republic of Zambia shall

vest in the President and, subject to the other
provisions of this Constitution, shall be exercised by
him either directly or through officers subordinate to
him.

Article 34
Election of President

(1) The election of the President shall be direct by

universal adult suffrage and by secret ballot and shall
be conducted in accordance with this Article and as may
be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

(2) An election to the office of President shall be

held whenever the National Assembly is dissolved and
otherwise as provided by Article 38.

(3) A person shall be qualified to be a candidate for

election as President if—

(a) he is a citizen of Zambia;

(b) both his parents are Zambians by birth or descent;

(c) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;

(d) he is a member of, or is sponsored by, a political

party;

(e) he is qualified to be elected as a member of the

National Assembly; and

(f) he has been domiciled in Zambia for a period of at

least twenty years.

(4) A candidate for election as President (hereinafter

referred to as a Presidential candidate) shall deliver
his nomination papers to the returning officer in such
manner, on such day, at such time and at such place as
may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.
(5) A Presidential candidate shall not be entitled to
take part in an election unless—

(a) he has paid such election fee as may be prescribed

by or under an Act of Parliament on or before the date
fixed by the Electoral Commission in that behalf;

(b) he makes, a statutory declaration, of his assets

and liabilities, which shall be open to public
inspection at such time and at such place as may be
prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament; and

(c) his nomination is supported by not less than 200

registered voters.

(6) At an election to the office of President—

(a) all persons registered in Zambia as voters for the

purposes of elections to the National Assembly shall be
entitled to vote in the election;

(b) the poll shall be taken by a secret ballot on such

day, at such time, in such places and in such manner as
may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament;

(c) after the expiration of the time fixed for polling,

the votes cast shall be counted and the returning
officer shall declare the result.

(7) Where there is only one qualified Presidential

candidate nominated for election, that candidate shall
be declared as elected without an election taking
place.

(8) The Returning Officer shall declare the candidate

who receives the highest number of the total votes cast
to have been duly elected as President.
(9) A person elected as President under this Article
shall be sworn in and assume office immediately but not
later than twenty-four hours from the time of declaring
the election.

(10) The person who has held office of President shall

immediately hand over the office of President to the
person elected as President and shall complete the
procedural and administrative handing over process
within fourteen days from the date the person elected
as President is sworn in.

(11) The person who has held office as President shall

not, within the period referred to in clause (10),
perform any functions of the office of President under
this Constitution or any other law.

Article 35
Tenure of Office of President

(1) Subject to clause (2) and (4) every President shall

hold office for a period of five years.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained

in this Constitution or any other Law no person who has
twice been elected as President shall be eligible for
re-election to that office.

(3) The President may, at any time by writing under his

hand addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly,
resign his office.

(4) A person assuming the office of the President in

accordance with this Constitution shall, unless—

(a) he resigns his office;

(b) he ceases to hold office by virtue of Article 36 or

37; or
(c) the National Assembly is dissolved;

continue in office until the person elected at the next

election to the office of President assumes office.

Article 36
Removal of President on Grounds of Incapacity

(1) If it is resolved by a majority of all the members

of the Cabinet that the question of the physical or
mental capacity of the President to discharge the
functions of his office ought to be investigated, and
they so inform the Chief Justice, then the Chief
Justice shall appoint a board consisting of not less
than three persons selected by him from among persons
who are qualified as medical practitioners under the
law of Zambia or under the law of any other country in
the Commonwealth, and the board shall inquire into the
matter and report to the Chief Justice on whether or
not the President is, by reason of any infirmity of
body or mind, incapable of discharging the functions of
his office.

(2) If the board reports that the President is

incapable of discharging the functions of his office,
the Chief Justice shall certify in writing accordingly
and shall table such certificate, with the report of
the board before the National Assembly who shall on a
motion, passed by a two thirds majority—

(a) ratify the decision of the board, and thereupon the

President shall cease to hold office; or

(b) reject the decision of the board and cause a

further inquiry into whether or not the President is
incapable of discharging the functions of his office
and shall thereafter decide on such questions by a two
thirds majority vote, which decision shall be final.
(3) Where the Cabinet resolve that the question of the
physical or mental capacity of the President to
discharge the functions of his office shall be
investigated, the President shall, until another person
assumes the office of President or the Board appointed
under clause (1) reports that the President is not
incapable of discharging the functions of his office,
whichever is earlier, cease to perform the functions of
his office and those functions shall be performed by—

(a) the Vice-President; or

(b) in the absence of the Vice-President or if the

Vice-President is unable, by reason of physical or
mental infirmity, to discharge the functions of his
office, by such member of the Cabinet as the Cabinet
shall elect:

Provided that any person performing the functions of

the office of President under this clause shall not
dissolve the National Assembly nor, except on the
advice of the Cabinet, revoke any appointment made by
the President.

(4) A motion for the purposes of clause (1) may be

proposed at any meeting of the Cabinet.

Article 37
Impeachment of President for Violation of Constitution

(1) If notice in writing is given to the Speaker of the

National Assembly signed by not less than one-third of
all the members of the Assembly of a motion alleging
that the President has committed any violation of the
Constitution or any gross misconduct and specifying the
particulars of the allegations and proposing that a
tribunal be established under this Article to
investigate those allegations, the Speaker shall—
(a) if Parliament is then sitting or has been summoned
to meet within five days, cause the motion to be
considered by the National Assembly within seven days
of the notice;

(b) if Parliament is not then sitting (and

notwithstanding that it may be prorogued) summon the
National Assembly to meet within twenty-one days of the
notice and cause the motion to be considered at that
meeting.

(2) Where a motion under this Article is proposed for

consideration by the National Assembly, the National
Assembly shall debate the motion and if the motion is
supported by the votes of not less than two thirds of
all the members of the National Assembly, the motion
shall be passed.

(3) If the motion is declared to be passed under clause

(2)—

(a) the Chief Justice shall appoint a tribunal which

shall consist of a Chairman and not less than two other
members selected by the Chief Justice from among
persons who hold or have held high judicial office;

(b) the tribunal shall investigate the matter and shall

report to the National Assembly whether it finds the
particulars of the allegations specified in the motion
to have been substantiated; and

(c) the President shall have the right to appear and be

represented before the tribunal during its
investigation of the allegations against him.

(4) If the tribunal reports to the National Assembly

that the tribunal finds that the particulars of any
allegation against the President specified in the
motion have not been substantiated no further
proceedings shall be taken under this Article in
respect of that allegation.

(5) If the tribunal reports to the National Assembly

that the tribunal finds that the particulars of any
allegation specified in the motion have been
substantiated, the National Assembly may, on a motion
supported by the votes of not less than three quarters
of all members of the National Assembly, resolve that
the President has been guilty of such violation of the
Constitution or, as the case may be, such gross
misconduct as is incompatible with his continuance in
office as President and, if the National Assembly so
resolves, the President shall cease to hold office upon
the third day following the passage of the resolution.

(6) No proceedings shall be taken or continued under

this Article at any time when Parliament is dissolved.

Article 38
Vacancy in Office of President

(1) If the office of the President becomes vacant by

reason of his death or resignation or by reason of his
ceasing to hold office by virtue of Article 36, 37, or
88, an election to the office of President shall be
held in accordance with Article 34 within ninety days
from the date of the office becoming vacant.

(2) Whenever the office of President becomes vacant,

the Vice-President or, in the absence of the Vice-
President or if the Vice-President is unable, by reason
of physical or mental infirmity, to discharge the
functions of his office, a member of the Cabinet
elected by the Cabinet shall perform the functions of
the office of President until a person elected as
President in accordance with Article 34 assumes office.
(3) The Vice-President or, the member of the Cabinet as
the case may be, performing the functions of the office
of the President under clause (2) shall not dissolve
the National Assembly nor, except on the advice of the
Cabinet, revoke any appointment made by the President.

Article 39
Discharge of Functions of President During Absence,
Illness, Etc.

(1) Whenever the President is absent from Zambia or

considers it desirable so to do by reason of illness or
for any other cause, he may by direction in writing,
authorise the Vice-President, or where the Vice-
President is absent from Zambia or incapable of
discharging the functions of the office of President,
any other person, to discharge such functions of the
office of President as he may specify, and the Vice-
President or such other person may discharge those
functions until his authority is revoked by the
President.

(2) If the President is incapable by reason of physical

or mental infirmity of discharging the functions of his
office and the infirmity is of such a nature that the
President is unable to authorize another person under
this Article to perform those functions—

(a) the Vice-President; or

(b) during any period when the Vice-President is absent

from Zambia or is himself, by reason of physical or
mental infirmity, unable to perform the functions of
his office, such member of the Cabinet as the Cabinet
shall elect;

shall perform the functions of the office of President:

Provided that any person performing the functions of
the office of President under this clause shall not
dissolve the National Assembly nor, except on the
advice of the Cabinet, revoke any appointment made by
the President.

(3) Any person performing the functions of the office

of President by virtue of clause (2) shall cease to
perform those functions if he is notified by the
Speaker that the President is about to resume those
functions or if another person is elected as, and
assumes the office of, President.

(4) For the purpose of clause (2), a certificate of the

Chief Justice that—

(a) the President is incapable by reason of physical or

mental infirmity of discharging the functions of his
office and that the infirmity is of such a nature that
the President is unable to authorise another person
under this Article to perform those functions; or

(b) the Vice-President is by reason of physical or

mental infirmity unable to discharge the functions of
his office:

shall be of no effect until such certificate is

verified by the National Assembly:

Provided that any such certificate as is referred to in

paragraph (a) shall cease to have effect if the
President notifies any person under clause (3) that he
is about to resume the functions of the office of the
President or if another person is elected as, and
assumes the office of, President.

Article 40
Oath of President
A person assuming the office of President shall, before
entering the office, take and subscribe to such oaths
as may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

Article 41
Returning Officer; Questions Relating to Elections

(1) The Chief Justice shall be the Returning Officer

for the purpose of elections to the office of
President.

(2) Any question which may arise as to whether—

(a) any provisions of this Constitution or any law

relating to the election of a President has been
complied with;

(b) any person has been validly elected as President

under Article 34;

shall be referred to and determined by the full bench

of the Supreme Court.

Article 42
Salary and Allowances of President

(1) The President shall receive such salary and

allowances as may be prescribed by an Act of
Parliament; and they shall be a charge on the general
revenues of the Republic.

(2) The salary and allowances of the President shall

not be altered to his disadvantage during his term of
office.

(3) A person who has held the office of President shall

receive such pension and such gratuity as may be
prescribed by an Act of Parliament, and that pension
and gratuity shall be a charge on the general revenues
of the Republic.

Article 43
Protection of President in Respect of Legal Proceedings

(1) No civil proceedings shall be instituted or

continued against the person holding the office of
President or performing the functions of that office in
respect of which relief is claimed against him in
respect of anything done or omitted to be done in his
private capacity.

(2) A person holding the office of President or

performing the functions of that office shall not be
charged with any criminal offence or be amenable to the
criminal jurisdiction of any court in respect of any
act done or omitted to be done during his tenure of
that office or, as the case may be, during his
performance of the functions of that office.

(3) A person who has held, but no longer holds, the

office of President shall not be charged with a
criminal offence or be amenable to the criminal
jurisdiction of any court, in respect of any act done
or omitted to be done by him in his personal capacity
while he held office of President, unless the National
Assembly has, by resolution, determined that such
proceedings would not be contrary to the interests of
the State.

(4) Where provision is made by law limiting the time

within which proceedings of any description may be
brought against any person, the term of any person in
the office of President shall not be taken into account
in calculating any period of time prescribed by that
law which determines whether any such proceedings as
are mentioned in clause (1) and (3) may be brought
against that person.
Article 44
Functions of President

(1) As the Head of the State, the President shall

perform with dignity and leadership all acts necessary
or expedient for, or reasonably incidental to, the
discharge of the executive functions of government
subject to the overriding terms of this Constitution
and the Laws of Zambia which he is constitutionally
obliged to protect, administer and execute.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of clause (1),

the President may preside over meetings of the Cabinet
and shall have the power, subject to this Constitution
to—

(a) dissolve the National Assembly as provided in

Article 88;

(b) accredit, receive and recognise ambassadors, and to

appoint ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, diplomatic
representatives and consuls;

(c) pardon or reprieve offenders, either

unconditionally or subject to such conditions as he may
consider fit;

(d) negotiate and sign international agreements and to

delegate the power to do so;

(e) establish and dissolve such Government Ministries

and Departments subject to the approval of the National
Assembly;

(f) confer such honours as he considers appropriate on

citizens, residents and friends of Zambia in
consultation with interested and relevant persons and
institutions; and
(g) appoint such persons as are required by this
Constitution or any other law to be appointed by him.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution

dealing with assent to laws passed by Parliament and
the promulgation and publication of such laws in the
Gazette, the President shall have power to—

(a) sign and promulgate any proclamation which by law

he is entitled to proclaim as President; and

(b) initiate, in so far as he considers it necessary

and expedient, laws for submission and consideration by
the National Assembly.

(4) When any appointment to an office to be made by the

President is expressed by any provision of this
Constitution to be subject to ratification by the
National Assembly—

(a) the National Assembly shall not unreasonably refuse

or delay such ratification but the question whether the
Assembly has so acted unreasonably shall not be
enquired into by any court;

(b) if such ratification is refused the President may

appoint another person to the office in question and
shall submit the appointment for ratification; or

(c) if the National Assembly refused to ratify the

second appointment it shall be invited to ratify an
appointment for the third time but the third
appointment shall take effect irrespective of whether
such ratification is refused, or is delayed for a
period of more than fourteen days.

(5) Subject to the other provisions of this

Constitution and any other law, any person appointed by
the President under this Constitution or that other law
may be removed by the President.

(6) In the exercise of any functions conferred upon him

under this Article, the President shall, unless he
otherwise obliges, act in his own deliberate judgment
and shall not be obliged to follow the advice tendered
by any other person or authority.

(7) Nothing in this Article shall prevent Parliament

from conferring functions on persons or authorities
other than the President.

Article 45
Vice-President

(1) There shall be an office of Vice-President of the

Republic.

(2) The Vice-President shall be appointed by the

President from among the members of the National
Assembly.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the

Vice-President shall vacate that office upon the
assumption by any person of the office of President.

(4) In addition to the powers and functions of the

Vice-President specified in this Constitution or under
any other law, the Vice-President shall perform such
functions as shall be assigned to him by the President.

(5) The salary and allowances of the Vice-President

shall be such as may be prescribed by an Act of
Parliament, and shall be a charge on the general
revenues of the Republic.

Article 46
Ministers
(1) There shall be such Ministers as may be appointed
by the President.

(2) Appointment to the office of Minister shall be made

from among the members of the National Assembly.

(3) A Minister shall be responsible, under the

directions of the President, for such business of the
Government including the administration of any Ministry
or Department of Government as the President may assign
to such Minister.

(4) The salaries and allowances of a Minister shall be

such as may be prescribed by an Act of Parliament, and
shall be a charge on the general revenues of the
Republic.

Article 47
Provincial Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister

(1) The President may appoint such Deputy Ministers as

he may consider necessary to assist Ministers in the
performance of their functions and to exercise or
perform on behalf of Ministers such of the Ministers’
functions as the President may authorise in that
behalf.

(2) A Provincial Deputy Minister shall be responsible

for the administration of any province as the President
may assign to such Provincial Deputy Minister.

(3) Appointment to the office of Provincial Deputy

Minister and Deputy Minister shall be made from amongst
members of the National Assembly.

(4) The salaries and allowances of Provincial Deputy

Minister and Deputy Ministers shall be such as may be
prescribed by an Act of Parliament, and shall be a
charge on the general revenues of the Republic.

Article 48
Oath of Vice-President, Minister and Deputy Ministers

A Vice-President, Minister or Deputy Ministers shall

not enter upon the duties of his office unless he has
taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and such
oath for the due execution of his office as may be
prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

Article 49
Cabinet

(1) There shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the

President, the Vice-President and the Ministers.

(2) There shall preside at meetings of the Cabinet—

(a) the President; or

(b) in the absence of the President, the Vice-

President.

(3) The Cabinet may act notwithstanding any vacancy in

its membership.

Article 50
Functions of Cabinet

The Cabinet shall formulate the policy of the

Government and shall be responsible for advising the
President with respect to the policy of the Government
and with respect to such other matters as may be
referred to it by the President.

Article 51
Accountability of Cabinet and Deputy Ministers

The Cabinet and Deputy Ministers shall be accountable

collectively to the National Assembly.

Article 52
Code of Conduct

All Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall conduct

themselves, during their tenure of office, in
accordance with a code of conduct promulgated by
Parliament.

Article 53
Secretary to Cabinet

(1) There shall be a Secretary to the Cabinet whose

office shall be a public office and who shall, subject
to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed
by the President.

(2) The Secretary to the Cabinet shall—

(a) be the Head of the Public Service and shall be

responsible to the President for securing the general
efficiency of the public service;

(b) have charge of Cabinet Office and be responsible in

accordance with the instructions given to him by the
President, for arranging the business for, and keeping
the minutes of the Cabinet and for conveying decisions
made in Cabinet to the appropriate authorities; and

(c) have such other functions as may be prescribed by

or under an Act of Parliament or as the President may
direct.

Article 54
Attorney-General
(1) There shall be an Attorney-General of the Republic
who shall, subject to ratification by the National
Assembly, be appointed by the President and shall be—

(a) an ex-officio member of the Cabinet; and

(b) the principal legal adviser to the Government.

(2) Without prejudice to the general functions under

clause (1), the functions of the Attorney-General shall
be to—

(a) cause the drafting of, and sign, all Government

Bills to be presented to Parliament;

(b) draw and peruse agreements, contracts, treaties,

conventions and documents, by whatever name called, to
which the Government is a party or in respect of which
the Government has an interest;

(c) represent the Government in courts or any other

legal proceedings to which Government is a party; and

(d) perform such other functions as may be assigned to

him by the President or by law.

(3) Subject to the other provisions of this

Constitution, no agreement, contract, treaty,
convention or document by whatever named called, to
which Government is a party or in respect of which the
Government has an interest, shall be concluded without
the legal advice of the Attorney-General, except in
such cases and subject to such conditions as Parliament
may by law prescribe.

(4) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to

the office of Attorney-General unless he is qualified
for appointment as Judge of the High Court.
(5) The office of the Attorney-General shall become
vacant if the holder of the office is removed from
office by the President.

(6) The person holding the office of Attorney-General

may resign upon giving three months notice to the
President.

(7) In the exercise of the power to give directions to

the Director of Public Prosecutions conferred by clause
(7) of Article 56, the Attorney-General shall not be
subject to the direction or control of any other person
or authority.

Article 55
Solicitor-General

(1) There shall be a Solicitor-General of the Republic

whose office shall be a public office and who shall,
subject, to ratification by the National Assembly, be
appointed by the President.

(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to

the office of Solicitor-General unless he is qualified
for appointment as a Judge of the High Court.

(3) The office of Solicitor-General shall become vacant

if the holder of the office is removed from office by
the President.

(4) The person holding the office of Solicitor-General

may resign upon giving three months notice to the
President.

(5) Any power or duty imposed on the Attorney-General

by this Constitution or any other written law may be
exercised or performed by the Solicitor General—
(a) whenever the Attorney-General is unable to act
owing to illness or absence; and

(b) in any case where the Attorney-General has

authorised the Solicitor-General to do so.

Article 56
Director of Public Prosecutions

(1) There shall be a Director of Public Prosecutions

and who shall, subject to ratification by the National
Assembly, be appointed by the President.

(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to

the office of Director of Public Prosecutions unless he
is qualified for appointment as Judge of the High Court
with experience biased towards criminal law.

(3) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall have

power in any case which he considers it desirable so to
do—

(a) to institute and undertake criminal proceedings

against any person before any court, other than a court
martial, in respect of any offence alleged to have been
committed by that person;

(b) to take over and continue any such criminal

proceedings as have been instituted or undertaken by
any other person or authority; and

(c) to discontinue, at any stage before judgement is

delivered, any such criminal proceedings instituted or
undertaken by himself or any other person or authority.

(4) The powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions

under clause (3) may be exercised by him in person or
by such public officer or class of public officers as
may be specified by him, acting in accordance with his
general or special instructions:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall preclude the

representation of the Director of Public Prosecutions
before any court by a legal practitioner.

(5) The powers conferred on the Director of Public

Prosecutions by paragraphs (b) and (c) of clause (3)
shall be vested in him to the exclusion of any other
person or authority.

(6) For the purposes of this Article, any appeal from

any judgement in any criminal proceedings before any
court, or any case stated or question of law reserved
for the purposes of any such proceedings, to any other
court in Zambia shall be deemed to be part of those
proceedings:

Provided that the power conferred on the Director of

Public Prosecutions by paragraph (c) of clause (3)
shall not be exercised in relation to any appeal by a
person convicted in any criminal proceedings or to any
case stated or question of law reserved at the instance
of such person.

(7) In the exercise of the powers conferred on him by

this Article, the Director of Public Prosecutions shall
not be subject to the direction or control of any other
person or authority:

Provided that where the exercise of any such power in

any case may, in the judgement of the Director of
Public Prosecutions, involve general considerations of
public policy, the Director of Public Prosecutions
shall bring the case to the notice of the Attorney-
General and shall in the exercise of his powers in
relation to that case, act in accordance with any
directions of the Attorney-General.
Article 57
Discharge of Functions of Director of Public
Prosecutions During Absence, Illness Etc.

Whenever the Director of Public Prosecutions is absent

from Zambia or the President considers it desirable so
to do by reason of the illness of the Director of
Public Prosecutions or for any other cause, he may on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission appoint
any person to discharge the functions of the Director
of Public Prosecutions until such appointment is
revoked.

Article 58
Tenure of Office of Director of Public Prosecutions

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, a person

holding the office of Director of Public Prosecutions
shall vacate his office when he attains the age of
sixty years.

(2) A person holding the office of Director of Public

Prosecutions may be removed from office only for
incompetence or inability to perform the functions of
his office whether arising from infirmity of body or
mind or misbehaviour and shall not be so removed except
in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(3) If the President considers that the question of

removing a person holding the office of Director of
Public Prosecution from office ought to be
investigated, then—

(a) he shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of

a Chairman and not less than two other members, who
hold or have held high judicial office;
(b) the tribunal shall inquire into the matter and
report on the facts thereof to the President and advise
the President whether the person holding the office of
Director of Public Prosecutions ought to be removed
from office under this Article for incompetence or
inability or for misbehavior.

(4) Where a tribunal appointed under clause (3) advises

the President that a person holding the office of
Director of Public Prosecutions ought to be removed
from office for incompetence or inability or for
misbehaviour, the President shall remove such person
from office.

(5) If the question of removing a person holding the

office of Director of Public Prosecutions from office
has been referred to a tribunal under this Article, the
President may suspend that person from performing the
functions of his office, and any such suspension may at
any time be revoked by the President and shall in any
case cease to have effect if the tribunal advises the
President that the person ought not to be removed from
office.

Article 59
Prerogative of Mercy

The President may—

(a) grant to any person convicted of any offence a

pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions;

(b) grant to any person a respite, either indefinite or

for a specified period, of the execution of any
punishment imposed on that person for any offence;

(c) substitute a less severe form of punishment for any

punishment imposed on any person for any offence; and
(d) remit the whole or part of any punishment imposed
on any person for any offence or any penalty or
forfeiture or confiscation otherwise due to the
Government on account of any offence.

Article 60
Advisory Committee

(1) There shall be an advisory committee on the

prerogative of mercy which shall consist of such
persons as may be appointed by the President.

(2) The President may appoint different persons to the

advisory committee for the purposes of advising him in
relation to persons convicted by courts-martial and for
purposes of advising him in relation to persons
convicted by other courts.

(3) A member of the advisory committee shall hold

office at the pleasure of the President.

(4) Where any person has been sentenced to death for

any offence the President shall cause the question of
the exercise in relation to that person of the powers
conferred by Article 59 to be considered at a meeting
of the advisory committee.

(5) Subject to the provisions of clause (4), the

President may refer to the advisory committee any
questions as to the exercise of the powers conferred
upon him by Article 59.

(6) The President, if present, shall preside at any

meeting of the advisory committee.

(7) The President may determine the procedure of the

advisory committee.

Article 61
Offices for Republic

(1) Subject to the other provisions of this

Constitution and any other law, the power to constitute
offices for the Republic and the power to abolish any
such office shall vest in the President.

(2) Subject to the other provisions of this

Constitution and any other law, the power to appoint
persons to hold or act in offices constituted for the
Republic of Zambia, to confirm appointments, to
exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or
acting in such offices and to remove any such person
from office shall vest in the President.

PART V
THE LEGISLATURE

Article 62
Legislative Power and Membership of Parliament

The legislative power of the Republic of Zambia shall

vest in Parliament which shall consist of the President
and the National Assembly.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 63
Composition Of, and Election To, National Assembly

(1) The National Assembly shall consist of—

(a) one hundred and fifty elected members;

(b) not more than eight nominated members; and

(c) the Speaker of the National Assembly.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the
election of members of the National Assembly shall be
direct, by universal adult suffrage and by secret
ballot and shall be conducted in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution and as may be
prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 64
Qualification for Election to National Assembly

Subject to Article 65, a person shall be qualified to

be elected as a member of the National Assembly if—

(a) he is a citizen of Zambia;

(b) he has attained the age of twenty-one years; and

(c) he is literate and conversant with the official

language of Zambia.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 65
Disqualification for Election to National Assembly

(1) A person shall not be qualified to be elected as a

member of the National Assembly if—

(a) that person is under a declaration of allegiance to

some country other than Zambia;

(b) that person is under any law in force in Zambia,

adjudged or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;

(c) that person is under a sentence of death imposed on

him by a court in Zambia or a sentence of imprisonment,
by whatever name called, imposed on him by such a court
or substituted by a competent authority for some other
sentence imposed on him by such court;

(d) that person is an undischarged bankrupt, having

been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any
law in force in Zambia;

(e) that person’s freedom of movement is restricted, or

that person is detained under the authority of law; or

(f) that person, within a period of five years before

his nomination for election, has served a sentence of
imprisonment for a criminal offence

(2) A person who holds, or is a validly nominated

candidate in an election for, the office of the
President shall not be qualified for election as a
member of the National Assembly.

(3) A Chief shall not be qualified for election as a

member of the National Assembly.

(4) A Chief who intends to stand for elections to the

National Assembly shall abdicate his chieftaincy before
lodging his nomination.

(5) Parliament may provide that a person who holds or

is acting in any office that is specified by Parliament
and the functions of which involve responsibility for,
or in connection with, the conduct of any election to
the National Assembly or the compilation of any
register of voters for the purposes of such an election
shall not be qualified to be elected as a member of the
National Assembly.

(6) Parliament may provide that a person who is

convicted by any court of any offence that is
prescribed by Parliament and that is connected with
election of the members of the National Assembly or who
is reported guilty of such offence by the court trying
an election petition shall not be qualified to be
elected as a member of the National Assembly for such
period, not exceeding five years following his
conviction or the report of the court, as the case may
be, as may be so prescribed.

(7) A person holding or acting in any post, office of

appointment—

(a) in the Zambia Defence Force as defined in the

Defence Act, the Combined Cadet Force, the Zambia
National Service, or any other force or service
established for the preservation of security in Zambia;

(b) in the Zambia Police Force, the Zambia Police

Reserve, the Zambia Security Intelligence Service, the
Anti-Corruption Commission, the Drug Enforcement
Commission, the Zambia Prison Service or in any other
force or service established for the preservation of
security in Zambia;

(c) in the Public Service including an office to which

Article 61 applies;

(d) in the Teaching Service;

(e) in any statutory body or any company or institution

in which the Government has any interest; or

(f) prescribed in that behalf or under an Act of

Parliament;

shall not be qualified for election as a member of the

National Assembly.

(8) In this Article, the reference to a sentence of

imprisonment shall be construed as not including a
sentence of imprisonment the execution of which is
suspended or a sentence of imprisonment in default of
payment of a fine.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 66
Nomination for Election to National Assembly

(1) Nominations for election to the National Assembly

shall be delivered to the Returning Officer appointed
by the Electoral Commission on such day and at such
time and at such place as may be prescribed by the
Electoral Commission.

(2) Any nomination for election to the National

Assembly shall not be valid unless—

(a) the candidate has paid the election fee prescribed

by or under an Act of Parliament; and

(b) the nomination is supported by not less than nine

persons registered in the constituency in which the
candidate is standing for the purpose of elections to
the National Assembly.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 67
By-election for the National Assembly

(1) When a vacancy occurs in the seat of a member of

the National Assembly as a result of the death or
resignation of the member or by virtue of Article 71, a
by-election shall be held within ninety days after the
occurrence of the vacancy.

(2) Parliament may by an Act of Parliament prescribe

the manner in which a by-election shall be held.
(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 68
Nominated Members

(1) The President may, at any time after a general

election to the National Assembly and before the
National Assembly is next dissolved, appoint such
number of persons as he considers necessary to enhance
the representation of the National Assembly as regards
special interests or skills, to be nominated members of
the National Assembly, so, however, that there are not
more than eight such members as any one time.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Article, a person

may be appointed as a nominated member if he is
qualified under Article 64 for election as an elected
member and is not disqualified under Article 65 for
election as an elected member.

(3) A person may not be appointed as a nominated member

if he was a candidate for election in the last
preceding general election or in any subsequent by-
election.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 69
Speaker

(1) There shall be a Speaker of the National Assembly

who shall be elected by the members of the Assembly
from among persons who are qualified to be elected as
members of the Assembly but are not members of the
Assembly.

(2) The Speaker shall vacate his office—

(a) if any circumstances arise that, if he were not
Speaker, would disqualify him for election as such;

(b) when the National Assembly first sits after any

dissolution of the National Assembly; or

(c) if the National Assembly resolves, upon a motion

supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of
all the members thereof, that he shall be removed from
office.

(3) No business shall be transacted in the National

Assembly, other than an election to the office of
Speaker, at any time when the office of Speaker is
vacant.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 70
Deputy Speaker

(1) There shall be a Deputy Speaker of the National

Assembly who shall be elected by the members of the
Assembly from among members of the Assembly.

(2) The members of the National Assembly shall elect a

person to the office of Deputy Speaker when the
Assembly first sits after any dissolution of the
National Assembly and, if the office becomes vacant
otherwise than by reason of the dissolution of the
National Assembly, at the first sitting of the Assembly
after the office becomes vacant.

(3) The Deputy Speaker shall vacate his office—

(a) if he ceases to be a member of the National

Assembly;
(b) if he assumes the office of President or becomes
the Vice-President, a Minister, a Deputy Minister or
holds or acts in any office prescribed in that behalf
by or under an Act of Parliament; or

(c) if the National Assembly resolves that he should be

removed from office.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 71
Tenure of Office of Members of National Assembly

(1) Every member of the National Assembly, with the

exception of the Speaker, shall vacate his seat in the
Assembly upon the dissolution of the National Assembly.

(2) A member of the National Assembly shall vacate his

seat in the Assembly—

(a) if he ceases to be a citizen of Zambia;

(b) if he acts contrary to the code of conduct

prescribed by an Act of Parliament;

(c) in the case of an elected member, if he becomes a

member of a political party other than the party of
which he was an authorised candidate when he was
elected to the National Assembly or, if having been an
independent candidate, he joins a political party or
having been a member of a political party, he becomes
an independent;

(d) if he assumes the office of President;

(e) if he is sentenced by a court in Zambia to death or

to imprisonment, by whatever name called, for a term
exceeding six months;
(f) if any circumstances arise that, if he were not a
member of the Assembly, would cause him to be
disqualified for election as such under Article 65;

(g) if, under the authority of any such law as is

referred to in Article 22 or 25—

(i) his freedom of movement has been restricted or he

has been detained for a continuous period exceeding six
months;

(ii) his freedom of movement has been restricted and he

has immediately thereafter been detained and the total
period of restriction and detention together exceeds
six months; or

(iii) he has been detained and immediately thereafter

his freedom of movement has been restricted and the
total period of detention and restriction together
exceeds six months.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (2),

where any member of the National Assembly who has been
sentenced to death or imprisonment, adjudged or
declared to be of unsound mind, adjudged or declared
bankrupt or convicted or reported guilty of any offence
prescribed under clause (4) of Article 65 appeals
against the decision or applied for a free pardon in
accordance with any law, the decision shall not have
effect for the purpose of this Article until the final
determination of such appeal or application:

Provided that—

(i) such member shall not, pending such final

determination, exercise his functions or receive any
remuneration as a member of the National Assembly; and
(ii) if, on the final determination of the member’s
appeal or application, his conviction is set aside, or
he is granted a free pardon, or he is declared not to
be of unsound mind or bankrupt or guilty of an offence
prescribed under clause (4) of Article 65, he shall be
entitled to resume his functions as a member of the
National Assembly unless he has previously resigned,
and to receive remuneration as a member for the period
during which he did not exercise his functions by
reason of the provisions of paragraph (i) of this
proviso.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 72
Determination of Questions as to Membership of National
Assembly

(1) The High Court shall have power to hear and

determine any question whether—

(a) any person has been validly elected or nominated as

a member of the National Assembly or the seat of any
member has become vacant;

(b) any person has been validly elected as Speaker or

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly or, having been
so elected, has vacated the office of Speaker or Deputy
Speaker.

(2) An appeal from the determination of the High Court

under this Article shall lie to the Supreme Court:

Provided that an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court

from any determination of the High Court on any
question of law including the interpretation of this
Constitution.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 73
Clerk and Staff of National Assembly

There shall be a Clerk of the National Assembly and

such other offices in the department of the Clerk of
the National Assembly as may be prescribed by an Act of
Parliament.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 74
Removal of Nominated Member by President

The President may, at any time, terminate the

appointment of any nominated member appointed under
Article 68 and appoint any other person in that
member’s stead.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 75
The Franchise

(1) Every citizen of Zambia who has attained the age of

eighteen years shall, unless he is disqualified by
Parliament from registration as a voter for the
purposes of elections to the National Assembly, be
entitled to be registered as such a voter under a law
in that behalf, and no other person may be so
registered.

(2) Every person who is registered in any constituency

as a voter for the purpose of elections to the National
Assembly shall, unless he is disqualified by Parliament
from voting in such elections on grounds of his having
been convicted of an offence in connection with
elections or, on the grounds of his having been
reported guilty of such an offence by the court trying
an election petition or, on the grounds of his being in
lawful custody at the date of the election, be entitled
so to vote in that constituency in accordance with the
provisions made by or under an Act of Parliament, and
no other person may so vote.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 76
Electoral Commission

(1) There is hereby established an autonomous Electoral

Commission to supervise the registration of voters, to
conduct Presidential and Parliamentary elections and to
review the boundaries of the constituencies into which
Zambia is divided for the purposes of elections to the
National Assembly.

(2) An Act of Parliament shall provide for the

composition and operations of the Electoral Commission
appointed by the President under this Article.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 77
Constituencies and Elections

(1) Zambia shall be divided into constituencies, for

purposes of elections to the National Assembly so that
the number of such constituencies, the boundaries of
which shall be such as an Electoral Commission
prescribes, shall be equal to the number of seats of
elected members in the National Assembly.

(2) In delimiting the constituencies, the Commission

shall have regard to the availability of means of
communication and the geographical features of the area
to be divided into constituencies:
Provided that the constituencies shall be so delimited
that there shall be at least ten constituencies in each
administrative Province.

(3) Each constituency shall return one member only to

the National Assembly.

(4) The boundaries of each constituency shall be such

that the number of inhabitants thereof is as nearly
equal to the population quota as is reasonably
practicable:

Provided that the number of inhabitants of a

constituency may be greater or less than the population
quota in order to take account of means of
communication, geographical features and the difference
between urban and rural areas in respect of density of
population and to take account of the proviso to clause
(2).

(5) The Electoral Commission shall, where it is

reviewing the boundaries of the constituencies, review
the boundaries and may, in accordance with the
provision of this Article, alter the constituencies to
such extent as it considers desirable:

Provided that the Commission shall, where a census of

the population has been held and the Commission
considers that the changes in the distribution of
population reported in the census do not justify an
alteration in the boundaries, it shall so report to the
President without entering upon a review of the
boundaries of the constituencies.

(6) Any alteration of the constituencies shall come

into effect upon the next dissolution of Parliament.

(7) In this Article “the population quota” means the

number obtained by dividing the number of inhabitants
of Zambia by the number of constituencies into which
Zambia is to be divided under this Article.

(8) For the purposes of this Article, the number of

inhabitants of Zambia shall be ascertained by reference
to the latest census of the population held in
pursuance of any law.

(9) During any period when the Presidential and

Parliamentary elections are being held, the Electoral
Commission shall be responsible for the registration of
voters and the conduct of elections in every
constituency.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 78
Exercise of Legislative Power of Parliament

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the

legislative power of Parliament shall be exercised by
Bills passed by the National Assembly and assented to
by the President.

(2) No bill (other than such a Bill as is mentioned in

Article 27) shall be presented to the President until
after the expiration of three days from the third
reading of the Bill by the National Assembly, and where
a Bill is referred to a tribunal in accordance with
Article 27, that Bill shall not be presented to the
President for assent until the tribunal has reported on
the Bill or the time for making a report has expired,
whichever is the earlier.

(3) Where a Bill is presented to the President for

assent he shall either assent or withhold his assent.

(4) Subject to clause (5), where the President

withholds his assent to a Bill, the President may
return the Bill to the National Assembly with a message
requesting that the National Assembly reconsiders the
Bill or any specified provision thereof and, in
particular, any such amendments as he may recommend in
his message, and when a Bill is so returned, the
National Assembly shall reconsider the Bill
accordingly, and if the Bill is passed by the National
Assembly on a vote of not less than two thirds of all
the members of the National Assembly, with or without
amendment, and presented to the President for assent,
the President shall assent to the Bill within twenty-
one days of its presentation, unless he sooner
dissolves Parliament.

(5) Notwithstanding clause (4), where the President

withholds his assent to a Bill, the Bill shall not
again be presented for assent.

(6) Where a bill that has been duly passed is assented

to in accordance with the provisions of this
Constitution it shall become law and the President
shall thereupon cause it to be published in the Gazette
as a law.

(7) No law made by Parliament shall come into operation

until it has been published in the Gazette, but
Parliament may postpone the coming into operation of
any such law and may make laws with retrospective
effect.

(8) All laws made by Parliament shall be styled “Acts”

and the words of enactment shall be “Enacted by the
Parliament of Zambia”.

Article 79
Alteration of Constitution
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article,
Parliament may alter this Constitution or the
Constitution of Zambia Act, 1991.

(2) Subject to cause (3) a bill for the alteration of

this Constitution or the Constitution of Zambia Act,
1991 shall not be passed unless—

(a) not less than thirty days before the first reading
of the bill in the National Assembly the text of the
bill is published in the Gazette; and

(b) the bill is supported on second and third readings

by the votes of not less than two thirds of all the
members of the Assembly.

(3) A bill for the alteration of Part III of this

Constitution or of this Article shall not be passed
unless before the first reading of the bill in the
National Assembly it has been put to a National
referendum with or without amendment by not less than
fifty percent of persons entitled to be registered as
voters for the purposes of Presidential and
parliamentary elections.

(4) Any referendum conducted for the purposes of clause

(3) shall be so conducted and supervised in such manner
as may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

(5) In this Article—

(a) references to this Constitution or the Constitution

of Zambia Act, 1991 include reference to any law that
amends or replaces any of the provisions of this
Constitution or that Act; and

(b) references to the alteration of this Constitution

or the Constitution of Zambia Act, 1991 or of any Part
or Article include references to the amendment,
modification or re-enactment with or without amendment
or modification, of any provision for the time being
contained in this Constitution, that Act, Part or
Article, the suspension or repeal or any such provision
and the making of different provision in lieu of such
provision, and the addition of new provisions, to this
Constitution, that Act, Part or Article.

(6) Nothing in this Article shall be so construed as to

require the publication of any amendment to any such
bill as is referred to in clause (2) proposed to be
moved in the National Assembly.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 80
Statutory Instruments

(1) Nothing in Article 62 shall prevent Parliament from

conferring on any person or authority power to make
statutory instruments.

(2) Every statutory instrument shall be published in

the Gazette not later than twenty-eight days after it
is made or, in the case of a statutory instrument which
will not have the force of law unless it is approved by
some person or authority other than the person or
authority by which it was made, not later than twenty-
eight days after it is so approved, and if it is not so
published it shall be void from the date on which it
was made.

(3) Where a tribunal appointed under Article 27 reports

to the President that any provision of a statutory
instrument is inconsistent with any provision of this
Constitution, the President may, by order annul that
statutory instrument and it shall thereupon be void
from the date on which it was made.
(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 81
Restrictions with Regard to Certain Financial Measures

Except upon the recommendation of the President

signified by the Vice-President or a Minister, the
National Assembly shall not—

(a) proceed upon any Bill (including an amendment to a

Bill) that, in the opinion of the person presiding,
makes provision for any of the following purposes:

(i) for the imposition of taxation or the alteration of

taxation otherwise than by reduction;

(ii) for the imposition of any charge upon the general

revenues of the Republic or the alteration of any such
charge otherwise than by reduction;

(iii) for the payment, issue or withdrawal from the

general revenues of the Republic of any moneys not
charged thereon or any increase in the amount of such
payment, issue or withdrawal; or

(iv) for the composition or remission of any debt due

to the Government; or

(b) proceed upon any motion (including any amendment to

a motion) the effect of which, in the opinion of the
person presiding, would be to make provision for any of
those purposes.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 82
President May Address National Assembly
(1) The President may, at any time, attend and address
the National Assembly.

(2) The President may send messages to the National

Assembly and any such message shall be read, at the
first convenient sitting of the National Assembly after
it is received, by the Vice-President or by a Minister
designated by the President.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 83
Presiding National Assembly

There shall preside at any sitting of the National

Assembly—

(a) the Speaker of the National Assembly;

(b) in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker;

or

(c) in the absence of the Speaker and of the Deputy

Speaker, such member of the Assembly as the Assembly
may elect for that purpose.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 84
Voting and Quorum

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution

all questions at any sitting of the National Assembly
shall be determined by a majority of votes of the
members present and voting other than the Speaker or
the person acting as Speaker as the case may be.
(2) The Speaker or person acting as such shall not vote
in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a
casting vote if there is an equality of votes.

(3) The National Assembly shall have power to act

notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership thereof,
and any proceedings in the National Assembly shall be
valid notwithstanding that it is discovered
subsequently that some person who was not entitled to
do so, voted or otherwise took part in the proceedings.

(4) The quorum for a meeting of the National Assembly

shall be one third of the total number of members of
the National Assembly and if at any time during a
meeting of the National Assembly objection is taken by
any member present that there is no quorum, it shall be
the duty of the Speaker or person acting as such,
either to adjourn the National Assembly or, as he may
think fit, to suspend the meeting until there is a
quorum.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 85
Unqualified Persons Sitting or Voting

Any person who sits or votes in the National Assembly

knowing or having reasonable grounds for knowing that
he is not entitled to do so, shall be liable to a
penalty not exceeding one thousand penalty units or
such other sum as may be prescribed by Parliament for
each day on which he so sits or votes, which penalty
shall be recoverable by action in the High Court at the
suit of the Attorney-General.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 86
Procedure in National Assembly
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the
National Assembly may determine its own procedure.

(2) The National Assembly may act notwithstanding any

vacancy in its membership (including any vacancy not
filled when the National Assembly first meets after any
dissolution of Parliament) and the presence or
participation of any person not entitled to be present
or to participate in the proceedings of the National
Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings.

(3) In the selection of members of committees, the

National Assembly shall seek to ensure that equitable
representation of the political parties or groups that
are represented in the National Assembly as well as of
the members not belonging to any such parties or
groups.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 87
Privileges and Immunities of National Assembly

(1) The National Assembly and its members shall have

such privileges, powers and immunities as may be
prescribed by an Act of Parliament.

(2) Notwithstanding subclause (1) the law and custom of

the Parliament of England shall apply to the National
Assembly with such modifications as may be prescribed
by or under an Act of Parliament.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 88
Dissolution of Parliament and Related Matters
(1) Subject to the provisions of clause (4) each
session of Parliament shall be held at such place
within Zambia and shall commence at such time as the
President may appoint.

(2) There shall be a session of Parliament at least

once every year so that a period of twelve months shall
not intervene between the last sitting of the National
Assembly in one session and the commencement of the
next session.

(3) The President may at any time summon a meeting of

the National Assembly.

(4) Subject to the provisions of clause (1) of Article

37, the sittings of the National Assembly in any
session of Parliament after the commencement of that
session shall be held at such times and on such days as
the National Assembly shall appoint.

(5) The President may at any time prorogue Parliament.

(6) Subject to clause (9) the National Assembly—

(a) shall, unless sooner dissolved, continue for five

years from the date of its first sitting after the
commencement of this Constitution or after any
dissolution and shall then stand dissolved;

(b) may, by a two thirds majority of the members

thereof dissolve itself; or

(c) may be dissolved by the President at any time.

(7) Whenever the National Assembly is dissolved under

this Article, there shall be Presidential elections and
elections to the National Assembly and the first
session of the new Parliament shall commence within
three months from the date of the dissolution.
(8) At any time when the Republic of Zambia is at war,
Parliament may from time to time extend the period of
five years specified in clause (6) for not more than
twelve months at a time:

Provided that the life of the National Assembly shall

not be extended under this clause for more than five
years.

(9) If, after a dissolution of Parliament and before

the holding of the general elections, the President
considers that owing to the existence of a state of war
or of a state of emergency in Zambia or any part
thereof, it is necessary to recall Parliament, the
President may summon the Parliament that has been
dissolved to meet and that Parliament shall be deemed
to be the Parliament for the time being, but the
general election of members of the National Assembly
shall proceed and the Parliament that has been recalled
shall, if not sooner dissolved again, stand dissolved
on the day appointed for the nomination of candidates
in that general election.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 89
Oaths to Be Taken by Speaker and Members

The Speaker of the National Assembly, before assuming

the duties of his office, and every member of the
National Assembly before taking his seat therein, shall
take and subscribe before the National Assembly the
oath of allegiance.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 90
The Investigator-General
(1) There shall be an Investigator-General of the
Republic who shall be appointed by the President in
consultation with the Judicial Service Commission and
shall be the Chairman of the Commission for
Investigations.

(2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as

Investigator-General—

(a) unless he is qualified to be appointed a judge of

the High Court; or

(b) if he holds the office of President, Vice-

President, Minister or Deputy Minister, is a member of
the National Assembly or is a public officer.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person

appointed Investigator-General shall vacate his office
on attaining the age of sixty-five years:

Provided that the President may permit a person who has

attained that age to continue in office for such period
as may be necessary to complete and submit any report
on, or do any other thing in relation to, any
investigation that was commenced by him before the
attained age.

(4) A person appointed as Investigator-General shall

forthwith vacate any office prescribed by an Act of
Parliament.

(5) A person appointed as Investigator-General may be

removed from office for incompetence or inability to
perform the functions of his office (whether arising
from infirmity of body or mind or from any other cause)
or from misbehaviour, but shall not be so removed
except in accordance with the provisions of this
Article.
(6) If the National Assembly by resolution supported by
the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the
members of that House, resolves that the question of
removing the Investigator-General ought to be
investigated, the Speaker of the National Assembly
shall send a copy to the Chief Justice who shall
appoint a tribunal consisting of a Chairman and two
other persons to inquire into the matter.

(7) The Chairman and one other member of the tribunal

shall be persons who hold or have held high judicial
office.

(8) The tribunal shall inquire into the matter and

report thereon to the President.

(9) Where such a tribunal advises the President that

the Investigator-General ought to be removed from
office for incompetence or inability or for
misbehaviour, the President shall remove the
Investigator-General from office.

(10) If the question of removing the Investigator-

General from office has been referred to a tribunal
under this Article, the President may suspend him from
performing any functions of his office, and any such
suspension may at any time be revoked by the President
and shall in any case cease to have effect if the
tribunal shall advise the President that the
Investigator-General ought not to be removed.

(11) If there is a vacancy in the office of the

Investigator-General, or if the Investigator-General is
temporarily absent from Zambia or otherwise unable to
exercise the functions of his office, the President may
appoint a person qualified to be a Judge of the High
Court to exercise the functions of the office of the
Investigator-General under this Article.
(12) A person appointed to the office of Investigator-
General may resign upon giving three months’ notice to
the President.

(13) The functions, powers and procedures of the

Investigator-General shall be as provided by an Act of
Parliament.

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

PART VI
THE JUDICATURE

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 91
Courts

(1) The Judicature of the Republic shall consist of:

(a) the Supreme Court of Zambia;

(b) the High Court of Zambia;

(c) the Industrial Relations Court;

(d) the Subordinate Courts;

(e) the Local Courts; and

(f) such other courts as may be prescribed by an Act of

Parliament.

(2) The Judges, members, magistrates and justices, as

the case may be, of the courts mentioned in clause (1)
shall be independent, impartial and subject only to
this Constitution and the law and shall conduct
themselves in accordance with a code of conduct
promulgated by Parliament.

(3) The Judicature shall be autonomous and shall be

administered in accordance with the provisions of an
Act of Parliament.

Article 92
Supreme Court

(1) There shall be a Supreme Court of Zambia which

shall be the final court of appeal for the Republic and
shall have such jurisdiction and powers as may be
conferred on it by this Constitution or any other law.

(2) The judges of the Supreme Court shall be—

(a) the Chief Justice;

(b) the Deputy Chief Justice;

(c) seven Supreme Court judges or such greater number

as may be prescribed by an Act of Parliament.

(3) The office of the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief

Justice or of a Supreme Court Judge shall not be
abolished while there is a substantive holder thereof.

(4) The Supreme Court shall be a superior court of

record, and, except as otherwise provided by
Parliament, shall have all the powers of such a court.

(5) When the Supreme Court is determining any matter,

other than an interlocutory matter, it shall be
composed of an uneven number of judges not being less
than three except as provided for under Article 41.

(6) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to

the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court in
relation to jurisdiction and powers of the Supreme
Court.

Article 93
Appointment of Judges of Supreme Court

(1) The Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice shall,

subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be
appointed by the President.

(2) The judges of the Supreme Court shall, subject to

ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by
the President.

(3) If the office of Chief Justice is vacant or if the

Chief Justice is on leave or is for any reason unable
to perform the functions of that office, then, until a
person has been appointed to, and has assumed the
functions of, that office or until the person holding
that office has resumed those functions, as the case
may be, the President may appoint the Deputy Chief
Justice or a Supreme Court judge to perform such
functions.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of clause (5),

if the office of Deputy Chief Justice is vacant or the
Deputy Chief Justice is on leave or is for any other
reason unable to perform the functions of his office,
the President may appoint another judge of the Supreme
Court to act as Deputy Chief Justice.

(5) If the office of a Supreme Court judge is vacant,

or if any Supreme Court judge is appointed to act as
Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice, or if any
Supreme Court judge is on leave or is for any reason
unable to perform the functions of that office, the
President may appoint a person qualified for
appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court to act as a
Supreme Court judge.
(6) A person may act as the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief
Justice or a Supreme Court judge notwithstanding that
he has attained the age prescribed by Article 98.

(7) A puisne judge appointed to act as Deputy Chief

Justice or Supreme Court judge, as the case may be,
pursuant to clause (4) or (5), shall continue to be a
judge of the High Court and may continue to perform the
functions of the office of puisne judge.

Article 94
High Court

(1) There shall be a High Court for the Republic which

shall have, except as to the proceedings in which the
Industrial Relations Court has exclusive jurisdiction
under the Industrial and Labour Relations Act [Act No.
27 of 1993], unlimited or original jurisdiction to hear
and determine any civil or criminal proceedings under
any law and such jurisdiction and powers as may be
conferred on it by this Constitution or any other law.

(2) The High Court shall be divided into such divisions

as may be determined by an Act of Parliament.

(3) The Chief Justice shall be an ex-officio judge of

the High Court.

(4) The other judges of the High Court shall be such

number of puisne judges as may be prescribed by
Parliament.

(5) The office of a puisne judge shall not be abolished

while there is a substantive holder thereof.

(6) The High Court shall be a superior court of record

and, except as otherwise provided by Parliament, shall
have the powers of such a court.
(7) The High Court shall have jurisdiction to supervise
any civil or criminal proceedings before any
subordinate court or any court-martial and may make
such orders, issue such writs and give such directions
as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of
ensuring that justice is duly administered by any such
court.

(8) The Chief Justice may make rules with respect to

the practice and procedure of the High Court in
relation to the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it
by clause (7).

Article 95
Appointment of Puisne Judges, Chairman and Deputy
Chairmen of the
Industrial Relations Court

(1) The puisne judges shall, subject to ratification by

the National Assembly, be appointed by the President on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

(2) The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Industrial

Relations Court shall be appointed by the President on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

(3) The provisions of Articles 98 and 99 shall apply to

the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Industrial
Relations Court, with the necessary modifications.

Article 96
Acting Judge of Supreme Court or of the High Court to
Act or Hold
Office until Appointment Expires or Is Revoked

(1) Any person appointed under Article 93 to act as a

judge of the Supreme Court shall continue to act for
the period of that person’s appointment or, if no such
period is specified, until his appointment is revoked
by the President:

Provided that the President may permit a person whose

appointment to act as a judge of the Supreme Court has
expired or been revoked to continue to act for such
period as may be necessary to enable that person to
deliver judgement or to do any other thing in relation
to proceedings that were commenced before such person.

Article 97
Qualifications for Appointment as Supreme Court Judge,
Puisne Judge,
Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Industrial
Relations Court

(1) Subject to clause (2), a person shall not be

qualified for appointment as a judge of the Supreme
Court, a puisne judge or Chairman or Deputy Chairman of
the Industrial Relations Court unless—

(a) he holds or has held high judicial office; or

(b) he holds one of the specified qualifications and

has held one or other of the following qualifications—

(i) in the case of a Supreme Court Judge, for a total

period of not less than fifteen years; or

(ii) in the case of a puisne judge, the Chairman and

Deputy Chairman of the Industrial Relations Court, for
a total period of not less than ten years.

(2) Where the President or the Judicial Service

Commission, as the case may be, is satisfied that, by
reason of special circumstances, a person who holds one
of the specified qualifications is worthy, capable and
suitable to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme
Court, a puisne judge, or Chairman or Deputy Chairman
of the Industrial Relations Court, notwithstanding that
he has not held one or other of those qualifications
for a total period of not less than fifteen or ten
years, as the case may be, the President acting in the
case of a judge of the Supreme Court, puisne judge or
Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Industrial Relations
Court in accordance with the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission, may dispense with the requirement
that such person holds one or other of the specified
qualifications for a total period of not less than the
period specified in clause (1).

(3) In this Article, “the specified qualifications”

means the professional qualifications specified in the
Legal Practitioners Act [Cap. 48], one of which must be
held by any person before he may apply under that Act
to be admitted as a practitioner in the Republic.

(4) For the purposes of this Article and of Articles 93

and 94, “a person qualified for appointment” means a
judge of the Supreme Court, a puisne judge or Chairman
or Deputy Chairman of the Industrial Relations Court
and includes a person in respect of whom the President
or Judicial Service Commission, as the case may be, is
satisfied as provided for in clause (2).

Article 98
Tenure of Office of Judges of Supreme and High Court

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, a person

holding the office of a judge of the Supreme Court or
the office of a judge of the High Court shall vacate
that office on attaining the age of sixty-five years:

Provided that the President—

(a) may permit a judge of the High Court in accordance

with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, or
a judge of the Supreme Court, who has attained that age
to continue in office for such period as may be
necessary to enable him to deliver judgement or to do
any other thing in relation to proceedings that were
commenced before him before he attained that age;

(b) may appoint a judge of the High Court in accordance

with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission or a
judge of the Supreme Court, who has attained the age of
sixty-five years, for such further period, not
exceeding seven years, as the President may determine.

(2) A judge of the Supreme Court, High Court, Chairman

or Deputy Chairman of the Industrial Relations Court
may be removed from office only for inability to
perform the functions of his office, whether arising
from infirmity of body or mind, incompetence or
misbehaviour and shall not be so removed except in
accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(3) If the President considers that the question of

removing a judge of the Supreme Court or of the High
Court under this Article ought to be investigated,
then—

(a) he shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of

a Chairman and not less than two other members, who
hold or have held high judicial office;

(b) the tribunal shall inquire into the matter and

report on the facts thereof to the President and advise
the President whether the judge ought to be removed
from office under this Article for inability as
aforesaid or for misbehaviour.

(4) Where a tribunal appointed under clause (3) advises

the President that a judge of the Supreme Court or of
the High Court ought to be removed from office for
inability, or incompetence or for misbehaviour, the
President shall remove such judge from office.
(5) If the question of removing a judge of the Supreme
Court or of the High Court from office has been
referred to a tribunal under clause (3), the President
may suspend the judge from performing the functions of
his office, and any such suspension may at any time be
revoked by the President and shall in any case cease to
have effect if the tribunal advises the President that
the judge ought not to be removed from office.

(6) The provisions of this Article shall be without

prejudice to the provisions of Article 96.

Article 99
Oaths to Be Taken by Judge

A judge of the Supreme Court or of the High Court shall

not enter upon the duties of his office unless he has
taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and such
oath for the due execution of his office as may be
prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament:

Provided that a person who has once taken and

subscribed to the said oaths may enter upon the duties
of any such office without again taking and subscribing
such oaths.

PART VII
DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 100
The Zambia Defence Force

(1) There shall be an armed force to be known as the

Zambia Defence Force.
(2) The Zambia Defence Force shall be non-partisan,
national in character, patriotic, professional,
disciplined, productive and subordinate to the civilian
authority as established under this Constitution.

(3) Members of the Zambia Defence Force shall be

citizens of Zambia and of good character.

(4) No person shall raise an armed force except in

accordance with this Constitution.

Article 101
Functions of Defence Force

The functions of the Zambia Defence Force shall be to—

(a) preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial

integrity of Zambia;

(b) co-operate with the civilian authority in emergency

situations and in cases of natural disasters;

(c) foster harmony and understanding between the Zambia

Defence Force and civilians; and

(d) engage in productive activities for the development

of Zambia.

Article 102
Parliament to Regulate Defence Force

Parliament shall make laws regulating the Zambia

Defence Force, and in particular, providing for—

(a) the organs and structures of the Zambia Defence

Force;

(b) the recruitment of persons into the Zambia Defence

Force from every district of Zambia;
(c) the terms and conditions of service of members of
the Zambia Defence Force; and

(d) the deployment of troops outside of Zambia.

Article 103
The Zambia Police Force

(1) There shall be a police force to be known as the

Zambia Police Force and such other police forces as
Parliament may by law prescribe.

(2) Subject to the other provisions of this

Constitution, every police force in Zambia shall be
organised and administered in such a manner and shall
have such functions as Parliament may by law prescribe.

(3) The Zambia Police Force shall be nationalistic,

patriotic, professional, disciplined, competent and
productive; and its members shall be citizens of Zambia
and of good character.

Article 104
Functions of Zambia Police Force

The functions of the Zambia Police Force shall include

the following:

(a) to protect life and property;

(b) to preserve law and order;

(c) to detect and prevent crime;

(d) to co-operate with the civilian authority and other

security organs established under this Constitution and
with the population generally.
Article 105
Parliament to Regulate Zambia Police Force

Parliament shall make laws regulating the Zambia Police

Force, and in particular, providing for—

(a) the organs and structures of the Zambia Police

Force;

(b) the recruitment of persons into the Zambia Police

Force from every district of Zambia;

(c) terms and conditions of service of members of the

Zambia Police Force; and

(d) the regulation generally of the Zambia Police

Force.

Article 106
Prison Service

There shall be the Zambia Prison Service.

Article 107
Parliament to Regulate Zambia Prison Service

Parliament shall make laws regulating the Zambia Prison

Service, and in particular, providing for—

(a) the organs and structures of the Zambia Prison

Service;

(b) the recruitment of persons to the Zambia Prison

Service from every district of Zambia;

(c) the terms and conditions of service of members of

the Zambia Prison Service; and
(d) the regulation generally of the Zambia Prison
Service.

Article 108
Zambia Security Intelligence Services

(1) There shall be a Zambia Security Intelligence

Service.

(2) Parliament shall make laws regulating the Zambia

Security Intelligence Service, and in particular,
providing for—

(a) the organs and structures of the Zambia Security

Intelligence Service;

(b) the recruitment of persons into the Zambia Security

Intelligence Service from every district of Zambia;

(c) the terms and conditions of service of members of

the Zambia Security Intelligence Service; and

(d) the regulation generally of the Zambia Security

Intelligence Service.

PART VIII
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 109
Local Government System

(1) There shall be such system of local government in

Zambia as may be prescribed by an Act of Parliament.

(2) The system of local government shall be based on

democratically elected councils on the basis of
universal adult suffrage.
PART IX
DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY
AND THE DUTIES OF A CITIZEN

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 110
Application of Directive Principles of State Policy

(1) The Directive Principles of State Policy set out in

this Part shall guide the Executive, the Legislature
and the Judiciary, as the case may be, in the—

(a) development of national policies;

(b) implementation of national policies;

(c) making and enactment of laws; and

(d) application of the Constitution and any other law.

(2) The application of the Directive Principles of

State Policy may be observed only in so far as State
resources are able to sustain their application, or if
the general welfare of the public so unavoidably
demands, as may be determined by Cabinet.

Article 111
Directives Not to Be Justiciable

The Directive Principles of State Policy set out in

this Part shall not be justiciable and shall not
thereby, by themselves, despite being referred to as
rights in certain instances, be legally enforceable in
any court, tribunal or administrative institution or
entity.

Article 112
Directive Principles of State Policy

The following Directives shall be the Principles of

State Policy for the purposes of this Part:

(a) the State shall be based on democratic principles;

(b) the State shall endeavour to create an economic

environment which shall encourage individual initiative
and self reliance among the people and promote private
investment;

(c) the State shall endeavour to create conditions

under which all citizens shall be able to secure
adequate means of livelihood and opportunity to obtain
employment;

(d) the State shall endeavour to provide clean and safe

water, adequate medical and health facilities and
decent shelter for all persons, and take measures to
constantly improve such facilities and amenities;

(e) the State shall endeavour to provide equal and

adequate educational opportunities in all fields and at
all levels for all;

(f) the State shall endeavour to provide to persons

with disabilities, the aged and other disadvantaged
persons such social benefits and amenities as are
suitable to their needs and are just and equitable;

(g) the State shall take measures to promote the

practice, enjoyment and development by any person of
that person’s culture, tradition, custom and language
insofar as these are not inconsistent with this
Constitution;

(h) the State shall strive to provide a clean and

healthy environment for all;
(i) the State shall promote sustenance, development and
public awareness of the need to manage the land, air
and water resources in a balanced and suitable manner
for the present and future generation; and

(j) the State shall recognise the right of every person

to fair labour practices and safe and healthy working
conditions.

Article 113
Duties of the Citizens

It shall be the duty of every citizen to—

(a) be patriotic and loyal to Zambia and to promote its

well-being;

(b) contribute to the well-being of the community where

that citizen lives, including the observance of health
controls;

(c) foster national unity and live in harmony with

others;

(d) promote democracy and the rule of law;

(e) vote in national and local government elections;

(f) provide defence and military service when called

upon;

(g) carry out with discipline and honesty legal public

functions;

(h) pay all taxes and duties legally due and owing to
the State; and

(i) assist in the enforcement of the law at all times.

PART X
FINANCE

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 114
Imposition of Taxation

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, no

taxation shall be imposed or altered except by or under
an Act of Parliament.

(2) Except as provided by clauses (3) and (4),

Parliament shall not confer upon any other person or
authority power to impose or to alter, otherwise than
by reduction, any taxation.

(3) Parliament may make provision under which the

President or the Vice-President or a Minister may by
order provide that, on or after the publication of a
Bill being a Bill approved by the President that it is
proposed to introduce into the National Assembly and
providing for the imposition or alteration of taxation,
such provisions of the Bill as may be specified in the
order shall, have the force of law for such period and
subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by
Parliament:

Provided that any such order shall, unless sooner

revoked, case to have effect—

(i) if the Bill to which it relates is not passed

within such period from the date of its first reading
in the National Assembly as may be prescribed by
Parliament;
(ii) if, after the introduction of the Bill to which it
relates, Parliament is prorogued or the National
Assembly is dissolved;

(iii) if, after the passage of the Bill to which it

relates, the President refuses his assent thereto; or

(iv) at the expiration of a period of four months from

the date on which it came into operation or such longer
period from the date as may be specified in any
resolution passed by the National Assembly after the
Bill to which it relates has been introduced.

(4) Parliament may confer upon any authority

established by law for the purposes of local government
power to impose taxation within the area for which that
authority is established and to alter taxation so
imposed.

(5) Where the Appropriation Act in respect of a

financial year has not come into force at the
expiration of six months from the commencement of that
financial year, the operation of any law relating to
the collection or recovery of any tax upon any income
or profits or any duty or customs or excise shall be
suspended until that Act comes into force:

Provided that—

(i) in any financial year in which the National

Assembly stands dissolved at the commencement of that
year the period of six months shall begin from the day
upon which the National Assembly first sits following
that dissolution instead of from the commencement of
the financial year;

(ii) the provisions of this clause shall not apply in

any financial year in which the National Assembly is
dissolved after the laying of estimates in accordance
with Article 115 and before the Appropriation by
Parliament.

Article 115
Withdrawal of Moneys from General Revenues

(1) No moneys shall be expended from the general

revenues of the Republic unless—

(a) the expenditure is authorised by a warrant under

the hand of the President;

(b) the expenditure is charged by this Constitution or

any other law on the general revenues of the Republic;
or

(c) the expenditure is of moneys received by a

department of government and is made under the
provisions of any law which authorises that department
to retain and expend those moneys for defraying the
expenses of the department.

(2) No warrant shall be issued by the President

authorising expenditure from the general revenues of
the Republic unless—

(a) the expenditure is authorised by an Appropriation

Act;

(b) the expenditure is necessary to carry on the

services of the Government in respect of any period,
not exceeding four months, beginning at the
commencement of a financial year during which the
Appropriation Act for that financial year is not in
force;

(c) the expenditure has been proposed in a

supplementary estimate approved by the National
Assembly;
(d) no provision exists for the expenditure and the
President considers that there is such an urgent need
to incur the expenditure that it would not be in the
public interest to delay the authorisation of the
expenditure until such time as a supplementary estimate
can be laid before and approved by the National
Assembly; or

(e) the expenditure is incurred on capital projects

continuing from the previous financial year and is so
incurred before commencement of the Appropriation Act
for the current financial year.

(3) the President shall, immediately after he signs any

warrant authorising expenditure from the general
revenues of the Republic, cause a copy of the warrant
to be transmitted to the Auditor-General.

(4) The issue of warrants under paragraph (d) of clause

(2), the investment of moneys forming part of the
general revenues of the Republic and the making of
advances from such revenues shall be subject to such
limitations and conditions as Parliament may from time
to time prescribe.

(5) For the purposes of this Article the investment of

moneys forming part of the general revenues of the
Republic or the making of recoverable advances
therefrom shall not be regarded as expenditure, and the
expression “investment of moneys” means investment in
readily marketable securities and deposits with a
financial institution approved by the Minister
responsible for finance.

Article 116
Supplementary Estimates in Respect of Expenditure
Authorised by Warrant
Where in any financial year any expenditure has been
authorised by a warrant issued by the President under
paragraph (d) of clause (2) Article 113, the Minister
responsible for finance shall cause a supplementary
estimate relating to that expenditure to be laid before
the National Assembly for its approval before the
expiration of a period of four months from the issue of
the warrant or, if the National Assembly is not sitting
at the expiration of that period, at the first sitting
of the National Assembly thereafter.

Article 117
Appropriation Acts and Supplementary Appropriation Acts

(1) The Minister responsible for finance shall cause to

be prepared and shall lay before the National Assembly
within three months after the commencement of each
financial year estimates of the revenues and
expenditure of the Republic for that financial year.

(2) When the estimates of the expenditure have been

approved by the National Assembly, the heads of the
estimates together with the amount approved in respect
of each shall be included in a Bill to be known as an
Appropriation Bill which shall be introduced in the
National Assembly to provide for the payment of those
amounts for the purposes specified out of the general
revenues of the Republic.

(3) Nothing in this Article shall be construed as

requiring the approval of the National Assembly for
that part of any estimates which relate to, or as
requiring the inclusion in an Appropriation Bill of
provisions authorising the expenditure of, sums which
are charged on the general revenues of the Republic by
this Constitution or any other law.
(4) Where any supplementary expenditure has been
authorised in respect of any financial year for any
purpose and—

(a) no amount has been appropriated for that purpose

under any head of expenditure by the Appropriation Act
for that financial year; or

(b) the amount of the supplementary expenditure is such

that the total amount expended for the purposes of the
head of expenditure in which expenditure for that
purpose was included is in excess of the amount so
appropriated under that head, the Minister responsible
for finance shall introduce in the National Assembly
not later than fifteen months after the end of that
financial year or, if the National Assembly is not
sitting at the expiration of that period, within one
month of the first sitting of the National Assembly
thereafter, a Bill, to be known as a Supplementary
Appropriation Bill, confirming the approval of
Parliament of such expenditure, or excess of
expenditure, as the case may be.

(5) Where in any financial year, expenditure has been

incurred without the authorisation of Parliament, the
Minister responsible for finance shall, on approval of
such expenditure by the appropriate committee of the
National Assembly, introduce in the National Assembly,
not later than thirty months after the end of that
financial year or, if the National Assembly is not
sitting at the expiration of that period, within one
month of the first sitting of the National Assembly
thereafter, a Bill to be known as the Excess
Expenditure Appropriation Bill, for the approval by
Parliament of such expenditure.

Article 118
Financial Report
(1) The Minister responsible for finance shall cause to
be prepared and shall lay before the National Assembly
not later than nine months after the end of each
financial year a financial report in respect of that
year.

(2) A financial report in respect of the financial year

shall include accounts showing the revenue and other
moneys received by the Government in that financial
year, the expenditure of the Government in that
financial year other than expenditure charged by this
Constitution or any other law on the general revenues
of the Republic, the payments made in the financial
year otherwise than for the purposes of expenditure, a
statement of the financial position of the Republic at
the end of the financial year and such other
information as Parliament may prescribe.

Article 119
Remuneration of Certain Officers

(1) There shall be paid to the holders of the offices

to which this Article applies such salary and such
allowances as may be prescribed by or under an Act of
Parliament.

(2) The salaries and any allowances payable to the

holders of the offices to which this Article applies
shall be a charge on the general revenues of the
Republic.

(3) The salary payable to the holder of any office to

which this Article applies and his terms of office
shall not be altered to his disadvantage after his
appointment.

(4) Where a person’s salary or terms of office depend

upon his option, the salary or terms for which he opts
shall, for the purposes of clause (3), be deemed to be
more advantageous to him than any others for which he
might have opted.

(5) This Article applies to the offices of judge of the

Supreme Court, Attorney-General, judge of the High
Court, Investigator-General, Solicitor-General,
Director of Public Prosecutions, Secretary to Cabinet
and Auditor-General and to such other offices as may be
prescribed by an Act of Parliament.

Article 120
Public Debt

(1) There shall be charged on the general revenues of

the Republic all debt charges for which the Government
is liable.

(2) For the purposes of the Article, debt charges

include interest, sinking fund charges, the repayment
or amortisation of debt, and all expenditure in
connection with the raising of loans on the security of
the revenues of the former Protectorate of Northern
Rhodesia or the Republic and on the service and
redemption of debt thereby created.

Article 121
Auditor-General

(1) There shall be an Auditor-General for the Republic

whose office shall be a public office and who shall,
subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be
appointed by the President.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Auditor General—

(a) to satisfy himself that the provisions of this Part

are being complied with;
(b) to satisfy himself that the moneys expended have
been applied to the purposes for which they were
appropriated by the Appropriation Act or in accordance
with the approved supplementary estimates, or in
accordance with the Excess Expenditure Appropriation
Act, as the case may be, and that the expenditure
conforms to the authority that governs it;

(c) to audit the accounts relating to the general

revenues of the Republic and the expenditure of moneys
appropriated by Parliament, the National Assembly, the
Judicature, the accounts relating to the stocks and
stores of the Government and the accounts of such other
bodies as may be prescribed by or under any law;

(d) to audit the accounts relating to any expenditure

charged by this Constitution or any other law on the
general revenues of the Republic and to submit a report
thereon to the President not later than twelve months
after the end of each financial year.

(3) The Auditor-General and any officer authorised by

him shall have access to all books, records, reports
and other documents relating to any of the accounts
referred to in clause (2).

(4) The Auditor-General shall, not later, than twelve

months after the end of each financial year, submit a
report on the accounts referred to in paragraph (c) of
clause (2) in respect of that financial year to the
President who shall, not later than seven days after
the first sitting of the National Assembly next after
the receipt of such report, cause it to be laid before
the National Assembly; and if the President makes
default in laying the report before the National
Assembly, the Auditor-General shall submit the report
to the Speaker of the National Assembly, or if the
office of Speaker is vacant or if the Speaker is for
any reason unable to perform the functions of his
office, to the Deputy Speaker, who shall cause it to be
laid before the National Assembly.

(5) The Auditor-General shall perform such other duties

and exercise such other powers in relation to all
accounts of the Government or the accounts of other
public authorities or other bodies as may be prescribed
by or under any law.

(6) In the exercise of his functions under clauses (2),

(3) and (4), the Auditor-General shall not be subjected
to the direction or control of any person or authority.

Article 122
Tenure of Office of Auditor General

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, a person

holding the office of Auditor-General shall vacate his
office when he attains the age of sixty years.

(2) A person holding the office of Auditor-General may

be removed from office only for inability to perform
the functions of his office, whether arising from
infirmity of body or mind, or for incompetence or for
misbehaviour and shall not be so removed except in
accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(3) If the National Assembly resolves that the question

of removing a person holding the office of Auditor-
General from office under this Article ought to be
investigated then—

(a) the National Assembly shall, by resolution, appoint

a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and not
less than two other members, who hold or have held high
judicial office;

(b) the tribunal shall inquire into the matter and

report on the facts thereof to the National Assembly;
(c) the National Assembly shall consider the report of
the tribunal at the first convenient sitting of the
National Assembly after it is received and may, upon
such consideration, by resolution, remove the Auditor-
General from office.

(4) If the question of removing a person holding the

office of Auditor-General from office has been referred
to a tribunal under this Article, the National Assembly
may, by resolution, suspend that person from performing
the functions of his office, and any such suspension
may at any time be revoked by the Assembly by
resolution and shall in any case cease to have effect
if, upon consideration of the report of the tribunal in
accordance with the provisions of this Article, the
National Assembly does not remove the Auditor-General
from office.

(5) A person who holds or has held the office of

Auditor-General shall not be appointed to hold or to
act in any other Public Office.

(6) A person who holds the office of Auditor-General

may resign upon giving three months’ notice to the
President.

PART XI
SERVICE COMMISSIONS

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 123
Commissions

(1) There shall be established for the Republic a

Judicial Service Commission which shall have the
functions conferred on it by this Constitution and such
other functions and powers, as may be prescribed by or
under an Act of Parliament.

(2) Parliament may establish for the Republic other

Commissions which, together with the Judicial Service
Commission, are hereafter collectively referred to as
Service Commissions, which shall have such functions
and powers in relation to the public service, or in
relation to persons in public employment other than
constitutional office holders or public officers, as
may be prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

(3) Commissions other than Service Commissions may be

established for the Republic by or under an Act of
Parliament and shall have such functions and powers as
may be prescribed by or under such an Act.

(4) Nothing in the foregoing precludes provision being

made by or under an Act of Parliament to confer on a
Service Commission functions and powers in relation to
matters other than public employment.

Article 124
Pension Laws and Protection

(1) The law to be applied with respect to any pension

benefits that were granted to any person before the
commencement of this Constitution shall be the law that
was in force at the date on which those benefits were
granted or any law in force at a later date that is not
less favourable to that person.

(2) The law to be applied with respect to any pensions

benefits not being benefits to which clause (1)
applies, shall—

(a) in so far as those benefits are wholly in respect

of a period of service as a public officer, as any
officer in the department of the Clerk of the National
Assembly, or as a member of the armed forces, that
commenced before the commencement of this Constitution,
be the law that was in force immediately before that
date; and

(b) in so far as those benefits are wholly or partly in

respect of a period of service as a public officer, as
any officer in the department of the Clerk of the
National Assembly, or as a member of the armed forces,
that commenced after the commencement of this
Constitution, be the law in force on the date on which
that period of service commenced; or any law in force
at a later date that is not less favourable to that
person.

(3) Where a person is entitled to exercise an option as

to which of two or more laws shall apply in his case,
the law for which he opts shall, for the purposes of
this Article, be deemed to be more favourable to him
than the other law or laws.

(4) All pensions benefits shall, except to the extent

to which they are a charge on a fund established by or
under any law and have been duly paid out of that fund
to the person or authority to whom payment is due, be a
charge on the general revenues of the Republic.

(5) In this Article “pension benefits” means any

pensions, compensation, gratuities or other like
allowances for persons in respect of their service as
public officers, as officers in the department of the
Clerk of the National Assembly or as members of the
armed forces or for the widows, children, dependants or
personal representatives of such persons in respect of
such service.

(6) Reference in this Article to the law with respect

to pension benefits include, without prejudice to their
generality, references to the law regulating the
circumstances in which such benefits may be granted or
in which the grant of such benefits may be refused, the
law regulating the circumstances in which any such
benefits that have been granted may be withheld,
reduced in amount or suspended, and the law regulating
the amount of any such benefits:

Provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary

contained in this Constitution or any other written
law, such references shall not be so construed as to
include the law regulating the law of compulsory
retirement.

(7) In this Article—

(a) references to service as a public officer includes

references to service as a public officer under the
Government of the territories which on the 24th
October, 1964, became the sovereign Republic of Zambia
and references to service as a member of the teaching
service of the said Government.

(b) references to service as an officer in the

department of the Clerk of the National Assembly
includes reference to service as an officer in the
department of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of
the said territories; and

(c) references to service as a member of the armed

forces include references to service as a member of the
armed forces of the said territories.

PART XII
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 125
Establishment of Human Rights Commission and its
Independence

(1) There is hereby established a Human Rights

Commission.

(2) The Human Rights Commission shall be autonomous.

Article 126
Functions, Powers, Composition, Procedure, Etc. of
Human Right Commission

The functions, powers, composition, funding and

administrative procedures, including the employment of
staff, of the Human Rights Commission shall be
prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.

PART XIII
CHIEFS AND HOUSE OF CHIEFS

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 127
The Institution of Chief

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the

Institution of Chief shall exist in any area of Zambia
in accordance with the culture, customs and traditions
or wishes and aspirations of the people to whom it
applies.

(2) In any community, where the issue of a Chief has

not been resolved, the issue shall be resolved by the
community concerned using a method prescribed by an Act
of Parliament.

Article 128
Concept and Principles Relating to the Institution of
Chiefs
The following concepts and principles shall apply to
Chiefs:

(a) the Institution of Chief shall be a corporation

sole with perpetual succession and with capacity to sue
and be sued and to hold assets or properties in trust
for itself and the peoples concerned;

(b) nothing in paragraph (a) shall be taken to prohibit

a Chief from holding any asset or property acquired in
a personal capacity; and

(c) a traditional leader or cultural leader shall enjoy

such privileges and benefits as may be conferred by the
Government and the local government or as that leader
may be entitled to under culture, custom and tradition.

Article 129
Chief Not to Be Partisan

A person shall not, while remaining a Chief, join or

participate in partisan politics.

Article 130
House of Chiefs

There shall be a House of Chiefs for the Republic which

shall be an advisory body to the Government on
traditional, customary and any other matters referred
to it by the President.

Article 131
Functions of House of Chiefs

Notwithstanding Article 130, the House of Chiefs may—

(a) consider and discuss any Bill dealing with, or
touching on, custom or tradition before it is
introduced into the National Assembly;

(b) initiate, discuss and decide on matters that relate

to customary law and practice;

(c) consider and discuss any other matter referred to

it for its consideration by the President or approved
by the President for consideration by the House; and

(d) submit resolutions on any Bill or other matter

referred to it to the President, and the President
shall cause such resolutions to be laid before the
National Assembly.

Article 132
Composition of House of Chiefs

(1) The House of Chiefs shall consist of twenty-seven

Chiefs.

(2) The members referred to in clause (1) shall consist

of three chiefs elected by the Chiefs from each of the
nine Provinces of the Republic.

(3) The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman shall be elected

from amongst the members.

Article 133
Tenure of Office and Vacancy

(1) A member of the House of Chiefs—

(a) shall hold office for a period of three years and

may be re-elected for a further period of three years;
or
(b) may resign upon giving one month’s notice in
writing to the Chairman.

(2) The office of member shall become vacant—

(a) upon his death;

(b) if he ceases to be a Chief;

(c) if any other circumstances arise that would cause

him to be disqualified for election;

(d) if he becomes a candidate to any election, or

accepts an appointment, to any office in a political
party;

(e) if he is adjudged or becomes an undischarged

bankrupt; or

(f) if he is declared or becomes of unsound mind under

any law in Zambia.

Article 134
Oaths of Members of House of Chiefs

The Chairman and every member of the House of Chiefs

shall take an oath of allegiance.

Article 135
Staff of House of Chiefs

There shall be a Clerk of the House of Chiefs and such

other staff as may be necessary for carrying out the
functions under this Part.

Article 136
President May Make Regulations
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the
President may by statutory instrument, make regulations
for—

(a) the appointment of the Clerk and other officers of

the House of Chiefs;

(b) provide for the remuneration of the Chairman, the

Vice-Chairman and other members of the House;

(c) the proceedings and conduct of the House of Chiefs;

(d) the application of any of the privileges and

immunities of the National Assembly and its members to
the House of Chiefs and its members; and

(e) such other matters as are necessary or conducive to

the better carrying out of the purposes of this Part.

PART XIV
MISCELLANEOUS

(As amended by Act No. 18 of 1996)

Article 137
Resignations

(1) Any person who is appointed or elected to any

office established by this Constitution may resign from
that office by writing under his hand addressed to the
persons or authority by whom he was appointed or
elected:

Provided that in the case of a person who holds office

as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
his resignation from that office shall be addressed to
the National Assembly, and in the case of an elected or
nominated member of the National Assembly his
resignation shall be addressed to the Speaker.
(2) The resignation of any person from any office
established by this Constitution shall take effect when
the writing signifying the resignation is received by
the person or authority to whom it is addressed or by
any person authorised by that person or authority to
receive it.

Article 138
Reappointment and Concurrent Appointments

(1) Where any person has vacated any office established

by this Constitution he may, if qualified, again be
appointed or elected to hold that office in accordance
with the provisions of this Constitution.

(2) Where a power is conferred by this Constitution

upon any person to make any appointment to any office,
a person may be appointed to that office
notwithstanding that some other person may be holding
that office, when that other person is on leave of
absence pending the relinquishment of the office; and
where two or more persons are holding the same office
by reason of an appointment made in pursuance of this
clause, then for the purposes of any function conferred
upon the holder of that office, the person last
appointed shall deemed to be the sole holder of the
office.

Article 139
Interpretation

(1) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise

requires—

“Act of Parliament” means a law enacted by Parliament;

“Article” means an Article of this Constitution;

“Chief” means a person who is recognised by the
President under the provisions of the Chiefs Act or any
law amending or replacing that Act as the Litunga of
Western Province, a Paramount Chief, Senior Chief,
Chief or Sub-Chief or a person who is appointed as
Deputy Chief;

“clause” means a clause of the Article in which the

word occurs;

“financial year” means the period of twelve months

ending on the 31st December in any year or on such
other day as may be prescribed by or under an Act of
Parliament:

Provided that by or under an Act of Parliament

prescribing a day other than the 31st December as the
terminal day of the financial year the said period of
twelve months may be extended or reduced for any one
financial year for the purpose of effecting such
prescribed change;

“the Gazette” means the official Gazette of the

Government of Zambia;

“High Court” means the High Court established by this

Constitution;

“high judicial office” means the office of a judge of a

court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal
matters in some part of the Commonwealth or in the
Republic of Ireland or the office of a court having
jurisdiction in appeals from such a court;

“House” means the National Assembly;

“meeting” means all sittings of the National Assembly

held during a period beginning when the National
Assembly first sits after being summoned at any time
and terminating when the National Assembly is adjourned
sine die or at the conclusion of a session;

“oath” includes affirmation;

“the oath of allegiance” means such oath of allegiance

as may be prescribed by law;

“paragraph” means a paragraph of the clause in which

the word occurs;

“person” includes any company or association or body of

persons, corporate or unincorporate;

“public office” means an office of emolument in the

public office;

“public officer” means a person holding or acting in

any public office;

“the public service” subject to clauses (2) and (3)

shall have the meaning assigned to it by an Act of
Parliament;

“session” means the sittings of the National Assembly

beginning when it first sits after the coming into
operation of this Constitution or after Parliament is
prorogued or dissolved at any time and ending when
Parliament is prorogued or is dissolved without having
been prorogued;

“sitting” means a period during which the National

Assembly is sitting without adjournment and includes
any period during which it is in committee;

“statutory instrument” means any proclamation,

regulation, order, rule, notice or other instrument,
(not being an Act of Parliament) of a legislative as
distinct from an executive character;

“Supreme Court” means the Supreme Court of Zambia

established by this Constitution.

(2) In this Constitution, references to offices in the

public service shall be construed as including
references to the offices of judges of the Supreme
Court and of the High Court, and to the offices of
Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and members of the
Industrial Relations Court.

(3) In this Constitution references to an office in the

public service shall not be construed as including
references to the offices of the Attorney-General, or a
member of any Commission established by this
Constitution or by an Act of Parliament or to the
office of the Clerk of the National Assembly or any
office in the department of the Clerk of the National
Assembly.

(4) For the purposes of this Constitution, a person

shall not be considered as holding a public office by
reason only of the fact he is in receipt of a pension
or other like allowance in respect of service under the
Government of Zambia or of its predecessor Government.

(5) A person shall not be regarded as disqualified for

appointment to any office to which a public officer is
not qualified to be appointed by reason only that he
holds a public office if he is on leave of absence
pending relinquishment of that office.

(6) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise

requires, a reference to the holder of an office by the
term designating his office shall be construed as
including a reference to any person for the time being
lawfully acting in or performing the functions of that
office:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to

references to the President or Vice-President in
Articles 36, 37, 39, and 45.

(7) References in this Constitution to the power to

remove a public officer from his office shall be
construed as including references to any power
conferred by any law to require or permit that officer
to retire from the public service:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed

as conferring on any person or authority power to
require a judge of the Supreme Court or of the High
Court, the Investigator-General, the Auditor-General or
the Director of Public Prosecutions to retire from the
public service.

(8) Any provision in this Constitution that vests in

any person or authority power to remove any public
officer from his office shall be without prejudice to
the power of any person or authority to abolish any
office or to any law providing for the compulsory
retirement of public officers generally or any class of
public officers on attaining an age specified therein.

(9) Where power is vested by this Constitution in any

person or authority to appoint any person to act in or
perform the functions of any office if the holder
thereof is himself unable to perform those functions,
no such appointment shall be called in question on the
ground that the holder of the office was not unable to
perform those functions.

(10) No provision of this Constitution that any person

or authority shall not be subject to the direction or
control of any other person or authority in the
exercise of any functions under this Constitution shall
be construed as precluding a court of law from
exercising jurisdiction in relation to any question
whether that person or authority has performed those
functions in accordance with this Constitution or any
other law.

(11) When any power is conferred by this Constitution

to make any proclamation, statutory instrument, order,
regulation or rule, or to issue any direction or
certificate or confer recognition, the power shall be
construed as including the power, exercisable in like
manner, to amend or revoke any such proclamation,
statutory instrument, order, regulation, rule,
direction or certificate or to withdraw any such
recognition:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to the

power to issue a certificate conferred by clause (2) of
Article 36.

(12) (a) Any reference in this Constitution to a law

that amends or replaces any other law shall be
construed as including a reference to a law that
modifies, re-enacts with or without amendment or
modification, or makes different provision in lieu of
that other law.

(b) Where any Act passed after the commencement of this

Constitution repeals and re-enacts, with or without
modification, any provisions thereof, references in
this Constitution to the provisions so repealed shall,
unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as
references to the provisions so re-enacted.

(c) Where any Act passed after the commencement of this

Constitution repeals any provision thereof then, unless
the contrary intention appears, the repeal shall not—
(i) revive anything not in force or existing at the
time at which the repeal takes effect; or

(ii) affect the previous operation of any provision so

repealed or anything duly done or suffered under any
provision so repealed; or

(iii) affect any right, privilege, obligation or

liability acquired, accrued or incurred under any
provision so repealed; or

(iv) affect any penalty, forfeiture or confiscation or

punishment incurred under any provision so repealed; or

(v) affect any investigation, legal proceeding or

remedy in respect of any such right, privilege,
obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture or
confiscation or punishment as aforesaid, and any such
investigation, legal proceeding or remedy may be
instituted, continued or enforced, and any such
penalty, forfeiture or confiscation or punishment may
be imposed, as if the repealing Act had not been
passed.

(13) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise

requires, words and expressions importing the masculine
gender includes females.

(14) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise

requires, words and expressions in the singular include
the plural and words and expressions in the plural
include the singular.

(15) Where this Constitution confers any power or

imposes any duty, the power may be exercised and the
duty shall be performed from time to time as occasion
requires.
(16) Where by any Act which repeals and re-enacts, with
or without modification, any provision of this
Constitution, and which is not to come into force
immediately on the publication thereof, there is
conferred—

(a) a power to make or a power exercisable by making

statutory instruments; or

(b) a power to make appointments; or

(c) a power to do any other thing for the purposes of

the provision in question;

that power may be exercised at any time on or after the

date of publication of the Act in the Gazette:

Provided that no instrument, appointment or thing made

or done under that power shall, unless it is necessary
to bring the Act into force, have any effect until the
commencement of the Act.

(17) In computing time for the purposes of any

provision of this Constitution, unless a contrary
intention is expressed—

(a) a period of days from the happening of an event or

the doing of any act or thing shall be deemed to be
exclusive of the day on which the event happens or the
act or thing is done;

(b) if the last day of the period is Sunday or a public

holiday which days are in this clause referred to as
“excluded days” the period shall include the next
following day, not being an excluded day;

(c) where any act or proceeding is directed or allowed

to be done or taken on a certain day, then, if that day
happens to be an excluded day the act or proceeding
shall be considered as done or taken in due time if it
is done or taken the next day afterwards, not being an
excluded day;

(d) where an act or proceeding is directed or allowed

to be done or taken within any time not exceeding six
days, excluded days shall not be reckoned in the
computation of the time.