Zambia Law Development Commission

The Zambia Law Development Commission which can be referred to as ‘the ZLDC’ or the ‘Commission’ has been in existence for 26 years. It started as a department in the Ministry of Justice. In 1996, it was converted from a department to a semi-autonomous statutory body established under the Zambia Law Development Commission Act, Chapter 32 of the Laws of Zambia which repealed and replaced the Law Development Commission and Institute of Legislative Drafting Act. 5 of 1974. The functions of the Commission are to:(i) recommend the revision and reform of the law in Zambia;(ii) recommend the codification of unwritten laws in review and consider proposals for law reform referred to the Commission by the Minister or the members of the public;(iv) hold seminars and conferences on legal issues;(v) translate any piece of legislation into local languages; and (vi)to research and make recommendations on: a) the socio-political values of the Zambian people that should be incorporated into legislation; b) the anomalies that should be eliminated from the statute book; c) new and more effective methods of administration of the law and the dispensation of justice that should be adopted and legislated; d) the removal of archaic pieces of legislation from the statute book; e) new areas of the law that should be developed which are responsive to the changing needs of the Zambian society.(vii) encourage international co-operation in the performance of its Act; and functions under do all such things incidental or conducive to the attainment of the functions of the Commission. The Zambia Law Development Commission is headed by a 13-member Commission.