THE Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) on Friday 28th August 2020 held a breakfast meeting at its offices in Lusaka on the program dubbed “ZLDC Public and Civil Society Engagement in the Law Review Processes”.
The objective of the meeting was to share the Commission’s experiences and successes in its collaboration with civil society and government ministries and departments in the implementation of ZLDC Public Engagement in the Law Reform Project. The meeting also provided a platform for the Commission to share information on its current law review processes.
The Commission Chairperson, Justice Roydah Kaoma, said that the Commission will continue to partner with all stakeholders in the law reform processes so that they reflect the socio and political values of the people in Zambia.
In a speech read on her behalf by Commissioner Mwaaanga Shilambwe, Justice Kaoma said that in 2019 the Commission received support from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) to support the project.
“The ZLDC Public and Civil Society Engagement Project aims at promoting full participation of the public, civil society organisations, Government ministries and departments, the media, the academia and other relevant stakeholders in the law reform processes in Zambia”, she said.
Justice Kaoma, who is also a Supreme Court Judge, emphasised that access to justice in any society encompasses more than simply access to the law or legal institutions adding that it also extends to access to law reform processes, therefore, direct participation by citizens themselves and through their representatives.
She called on the media to continue educating and sharing information with the public on law reform processes being conducted by the Commission. Justice Kaoma indicated that the Commission has completed a number of law review projects and is currently working on projects such as review of the rural electrification act no.20 of 2003; Review of the British Acts (extension) act chapter 10 of the laws of Zambia; Operationalization of the prisoners right to vote (reviewing legislation and developing regulations); Review of the penal code act chapters 87 of the laws of Zambia; Review criminal procedure code chapter 88 of the laws of Zambia; Review of legislation related to the smuggling of migrants.
She welcomed members of the public and civil society organisations input into the ongoing legislative review processes.