The Zambian Cabinet has resolved to strengthen laws against inciting hatred, ridicule and division in the country.
Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa has disclosed that at its meeting of June 4, Cabinet approved the strengthening of punishment for discrimination and sectarianism to deter would-be offenders.
These amendments to the law come on the back of various incidents of politicians making divisive comments, which led to the arrest of at least two members of Parliament whose matters are currently before court.
In the wake of those incidents, President Hichilema explicitly stated that he would be taking before his Cabinet proposals to strengthen certain laws.
And Mweetwa also said the same sitting of Cabinet had approved the Draft 2023 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework, which proposes to restructure Zambia’s education system.
The major changes include reducing the early childhood education commencement age to 3 years, and primary education to 6 years, from
4 and 7 years respectively.
“This also paves the way for the introduction of Advanced Levels at Secondary Education level and reducing the duration of Degree courses from 4 to 3 years,” said Mweetwa.
Further, Cabinet has also, in principle, approved to introduce a bill in Parliament to repeal the Defence Act.
“This is to streamline legislation on the Defence Force and pave the way for the repeal of the Zambia National Service Act to ensure conformity with Articles 192 and 197 of the Constitution of Zambia 2016,” stated Mweetwa.
He added that the intended changes are also meant to consolidate the mandate and functions of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and merge the Defence Act with the ZNS Act.
The changes, when in effect, will operationalize Article 192 of Zambia’s Constitution, which provides that Zambia’s Defence Force shall consist of the Zambia Army, Zambia Airforce, and Zambia National Service.
Approval to strengthen firearms licensing and regulatory mechanisms has also been secured, in principle. A parliamentary bill will be introduced to amend the existing Firearms Act.
