FAOLEX Database

Zambia - Aqualex Profiles

Framework Law

The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Water Resources Management Act, 2011 (No. 21 of 2011).
Date of text: 15 April 2011

Constitutional provisions

Constitution of Zambia.
Date of original text: 11 August 1991 (2016)

Natural resources: Article 112 of Chapter IX defining the directive principles of the state policy states that ‘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’(Art.112/ i). See also new article 255 inserted in 2016.

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
No legislation available

Water Supply and Sanitation

Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Water Supply and Sanitation Act, 1997 (No. 28 of 1997).
Date of text: 14 November 1997
Millennium Challenge Compact Act, 2013 (No. 6 of 2013).
Date of text: 22 March 2013
Water Supply and Sanitation (Transfer of Property) Order, 2017 (No. 8 of 2017).
Date of text: 11 January 2017

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Water Supply and Sanitation Act, 1997 (No. 28 of 1997).
Date of text: 14 November 1997
Zambezi River Authority Act, 1987 (Cap. 467).
Date of original text: 25 September 1987 (2020)
Zambezi River Authority (Amendment) Act, 2001 (No. 12 of 2001).
Date of text: 09 November 2001

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Millennium Challenge Compact Act, 2013 (No. 6 of 2013).
Date of text: 22 March 2013
Water Board (Works) Regulations (Cap. 198).
Date of original text: 11 August 1993 (2020)
Urban and Regional Planning Act, 2015 (No. 3 of 2015).
Date of text: 14 August 2015

Water Resources Management and Water Rights

Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Zambezi River Authority Act, 1987 (Cap. 467).
Date of original text: 25 September 1987 (2020)
Zambezi River Authority (Amendment) Act, 2001 (No. 12 of 2001).
Date of text: 09 November 2001
Water Resources Management (Charges and Fees) Regulations, 2018 (S.I. No. 18 of 2018).
Date of text: 28 February 2018

Water and Environment

Water in environmentally-sensitive areas; ‘water demand’ by ecosystems; protection forests; water conservation zones; environmental impact assessment
Agreement on the Establishment of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission.
Date of text: 13 July 2004
Agreement on the action plan for the environmentally sound management of the Common Zambezi River System.
Date of text: 28 May 1987
Forests Act, 2015 (Act No. 4 of 2015).
Date of text: 14 August 2015

Water Quality and Pollution Control

Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
Water Supply and Sanitation Act, 1997 (No. 28 of 1997).
Date of text: 14 November 1997
Mines and Minerals (Environmental) Regulations, 1997 (Cap. 213).
Date of original text: 20 February 1997 (2020)
Public Health (Drainage and Latrine) Regulations (Cap. 295).
Date of original text: 11 August 2020 (2020)

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Water Resources Management (Groundwater and Boreholes) Regulations, 2018 (S.I. No. 20 of 2018).
Date of text: 07 March 2018
Water Resources Management (Licensing of Drillers and Constructors) Regulations, 2018 (S.I. No. 19 of 2018).
Date of text: 28 February 2018
Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Date of text: 07 August 2000

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
No legislation available

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Zambezi River Authority Act, 1987 (Cap. 467).
Date of original text: 25 September 1987 (2020)
Zambezi River Authority (Amendment) Act, 2001 (No. 12 of 2001).
Date of text: 09 November 2001
Agreement on the Establishment of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission.
Date of text: 13 July 2004

Policies

National Policy on Wetlands.
Date of text: 01 September 2018
National Wetlands Policy - Implementation Plan.
Date of text: 01 September 2018
Seventh National Development Plan 2017-2021.
Date of text: 11 August 2020
Zambia National Policy on Climate Change 2016.
Date of text: 01 April 2016
Second National Agricultural Policy 2016.
Date of text: 01 February 2016
National Water Supply and Sanitation Council Strategic Plan 2016-2020.
Date of text: 11 August 2020
National Urban and Peri-Urban Sanitation Strategy (2015-2030).
Date of text: 01 November 2015
Zambia National Strategy to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
Date of text: 01 January 2015
Zambia’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the 2015 Agreement on climate change.
Date of text: 11 August 2020
National Gender Policy 2014.
Date of text: 01 September 2014
National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP) 2014-2018.
Date of text: 01 May 2013
Zambia National Health Policy.
Date of text: 01 August 2012
National Agriculture Policy 2012 - 2030.
Date of text: 01 August 2011
Zambia National Agricultural Policy 2012-2030.
Date of text: 01 August 2011
National Climate Change Response Strategy.
Date of text: 01 December 2010
National Water Policy.
Date of text: 01 February 2010
National Forest Policy 2009.
Date of text: 01 October 2009
National Policy on Environment.
Date of text: 11 August 2020
Fifth National Development Plan 2006-2010.
Date of text: 11 August 2020
Zambia Vision 2030
Date of text: 11 August 2020

Main basins

Rukwa Lake
Tanganyka
Zambesi
Congo