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18
General Information
International relations
Zambia is a member of:
• The African Development Bank (ADB)
• The African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA)
• The African Union (AU)
• The Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA)
• The Commonwealth
• The EU economic Partnership Agreement
• The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
• The International Labour Organization (ILO)
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA)
• The New Partnership for Africa’s Development
(NEPAD)
• The Non-Aligned Movement
• The Southern African Development Community
(SADC)
• The United Nations
• The World Bank
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
• The World Trade Organization (WTO)
Executive Power of the government
Zambia is separated into nine provinces (Central,
Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapulu, Lusaka, Northern,
Northwestern, Southern and Western Provinces),
each governed by a minister appointed by the Presi-
dent. The President serves as both the head of state
and the head of government, and is able to appoint
cabinet ministers from members of the National As-
sembly, a chamber of 150 elected representatives.
Zambian citizens of 18 years and over are eligible to
vote, in any one of the nine provinces.
Zambia has a unicameral legislature, the Zambian
National Assembly, within which legislative powers
are vested. Voters directly elect 150 member of Par-
liament, while the remaining 8 are nominated by the
President of the Republic. Out of 158 Members of
Parliament, at the moment 15 are women.
The Judicial system
The judicial system is based on English common law
and customary law. Common law is administered
by several High Courts, which have the authority
to hear criminal and civil cases as well as appeals
from lower courts. Resident magistrate’s courts are
also established at various centres throughout the
country, within which trials are open to the public.
Local courts mainly administer matter of customary
law, especially cases relating to marriage, property,
and inheritance. There is also an Industrial Relations
Court, which helps to resolves labour disputes.
Under the constitution of 1997, the Supreme Court
of Zambia is recognized as the highest court in the
country and serves as the final court of appeal. The
President appoints the Chief Justice and another
eight judges to serve as judges of the Supreme
Court. In consultation with the Prime Minister, the
President also appoints the Director of Public Pros-
ecution and the Attorney General, the latter being the
principal legal adviser to the government. Despite
the political problems of the past, the government
throughout Zambian history has respected the inde-
pendence of the judiciary.
Court attire of wigs and gowns is worn in Zambian Courts