State in Zambia

The Constitution is Zambia's highest law. It establishes the Republic of Zambia, protects fundamental rights through the Bill of Rights and sets national values and principles for public institutions. Public authority must remain lawful, accountable and consistent with the constitutional separation of powers. The Executive is led by the President, who serves as Head of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief. The Vice-President supports the President. Cabinet consists of the President, Vice-President, Ministers and the Attorney-General as an ex officio member. It develops government policy, considers Bills, prepares the national budget, handles public borrowing and guarantees, and considers international agreements. Cabinet Office is the highest administrative office, while ministries, departments and agencies deliver specific public functions. Permanent Secretaries and other senior officials manage administration within those institutions. Parliament consists of the President and the National Assembly. A Bill normally passes through the National Assembly before it receives presidential assent and becomes law. The National Assembly approves appropriations, examines public expenditure, approves public debt before it is contracted and approves treaties where the Constitution or law requires it. Committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, examine government action and spending. People can obtain parliamentary information, submit petitions or participate in committee hearings under the applicable parliamentary rules. Election rules and voting procedures belong to the separate elections subject area. The Judiciary is independent and is subject only to the Constitution and the law. The Supreme Court is generally the final court of appeal, except for constitutional matters handled by the Constitutional Court. Other superior courts include the Court of Appeal and the High Court. Subordinate courts include Subordinate Courts, Small Claims Courts and Local Courts. Civil, criminal and constitutional proceedings, as well as judicial review of administrative action, follow different procedures. Court fees, legal representation, procedural costs, distance and local court capacity can affect access. Zambia has 10 provinces, which are divided into districts, wards and sub-structures. A provincial secretariat includes a Provincial Minister, a provincial Permanent Secretary and supporting staff. Provincial Administration coordinates national government functions in the province; it does not constitute an independent third level of government. Local Government operates through Local Authorities, including city, municipal, town and district councils. Councils administer districts, implement projects and programmes, make by-laws and perform functions assigned by law. Decentralisation by devolution transfers functions, responsibilities and matching resources from national institutions towards local government. The National Decentralisation Policy 2023, Cabinet Office Circular No. 2 of 2023 and the Decentralisation Secretariat guide this work. Ministries, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Cabinet Office, Provincial Administration, the Local Government Service Commission and councils all have roles. District and council channels, wards, community structures, Integrated Development Plans, Provincial Development Coordinating Committees and District Development Coordinating Committees can connect local needs with public planning. The distribution of responsibilities and resources remains uneven, and sector laws or institutional practice can assign overlapping functions. Council fees, permits, rates and other charges depend on the relevant council and legal basis. Traditional authorities and chiefdom structures have a state-recognised local role in traditional affairs. They complement, but do not generally replace, elected Local Authorities or national administration. Service availability, administrative capacity, fees and practical access can differ between provinces, districts and councils. Public administration includes formal records, Gazette notices, statutory instruments, licences, permits and published service charters. Public bodies should act lawfully, fairly and accountably. A person who experiences maladministration, unfair treatment, negligence or service failure can complain to the Office of the Public Protector. The Human Rights Commission handles human-rights complaints and related oversight. Courts can review unlawful administrative action. Complaint procedures, documents, costs and response times depend on the institution and its published rules. Public finance operates through the Consolidated Fund. Cabinet prepares the national budget and the National Assembly authorises expenditure. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning publishes the national budget and borrowing plans. The Zambia Revenue Authority administers tax and customs matters, while the Bank of Zambia conducts monetary policy and publishes Monetary Policy Committee statements. Local government finance includes the Local Government Equalisation Fund, the Constituency Development Fund, locally raised revenue and grants or transfers. Public procurement is governed by the Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020, as amended by Act No. 17 of 2023. The Zambia Public Procurement Authority sets standards, regulates compliance and promotes value for money, including through the e-GP system. Taxes, rates, levies, fees and tariffs require the applicable legal or administrative basis, and payment or disbursement timing depends on the programme or procedure. Oversight institutions include the Auditor-General and the Office of the Auditor General, which audit state organs, institutions and Local Authorities and publish main, performance, local-government and special reports. The State Audit Commission supports constitutional audit governance. The Anti-Corruption Commission receives complaints and works on prevention, investigation and prosecution subject to directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Financial Intelligence Centre receives suspicious transaction reports and develops money-laundering and terrorism-financing intelligence for law-enforcement use. The National Assembly also oversees the Executive. People should use the complaint or reporting channel required by the relevant institution and preserve documents, correspondence and transaction records. Access to public information is governed by the Access to Information Act No. 24 of 2023, subject to its limitations and exemptions. The Ministry of Information and Media develops information and media policy and works with statutory bodies. Broadcasting is regulated under the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act No. 25 of 2025, which covers licensing, standards, monitoring and public complaints. The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Act No. 26 of 2025 provides the framework for the state broadcaster, its Broadcast Charter and a broadcast levy. ZICTA regulates information and communications technology, postal and courier services, electronic communications, spectrum, consumer protection, cybersecurity and type approval. Public communication therefore involves state, private and community media, civil society and digital platforms, each subject to its own legal and regulatory framework. National security functions are distributed among the Zambia Defence Force, the Zambia Police Service, the Zambia Security Intelligence Service and the Zambia Correctional Service. The Defence Force comprises the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and Zambia National Service as an auxiliary unit. Defence functions include protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity and responding to emergencies or disasters. The Police Service protects life and property, maintains peace and order, supports public security and prevents crime. The Zambia Security Intelligence Service handles security and counter-intelligence functions, while the Correctional Service manages prisons and correctional centres. These services are expected to be nationalistic, patriotic, professional, disciplined, competent, non-partisan and subject to civilian authority. The President may deploy the Defence Force externally and must inform the National Assembly within the required constitutional timeframe. Police, security and correctional complaints can also involve the Human Rights Commission or the courts. Formal authority generally follows the Constitution, Acts and regulations, then policies and circulars, followed by customary or local practice where applicable. The exact institution, fee, document requirement and response time therefore depends on the service, location and legal basis involved.