Legal Framework for Decentralisation in Zambia

The decentralization process has been given prominence in the national development agenda after being embedded in the laws of Zambia. The Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of2016; Part IX Articles 147 and 148, has given full legal mandate to the implementation of theNational Decentralisation Policy by devolution. In article 147 (1), the Constitution provides that the management and administration of the political, social, legal and economic affairs of the State shall be devolved from the National Government Level to the Local Government level. Further, Article 147 (2) of the Constitution provides for the Annex that lists the concurrent and exclusive functions at National, Provincial and Local Government levels.Article 148 provides that local governance shall be undertaken through substructures and that the Government shall provide adequate resources for the performance of the functions of the sub-structures.

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