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Updates on Zambia

31 Dec 2005

According to a statement by Minister of Justice George Kunda at a meeting in Lusaka on implementing legislation of the ICC in August 2004, Zambia has begun the process of reviewing its domestic laws so as to start implementing the provisions of the Rome Statute.

Minister Kunda reportedly remarked that the Zambian Government "has decided to take this step so as to ensure that war crimes and other serious crimes that concern the international community as a whole are punished in the Zambian courts."

Prior to ratification of the Rome Statute, a memo from the Cabinet was sent to all ministries to solicit their views on the ICC and no potential barriers were raised.

To assist SADC Member States in enacting legislation, a Southern African Development Community meeting held in Pretoria, South Africa, 5-9 July 1999 adopted a model-enabling-law that each state could adopt and adapt to their national situations. This model law covers virtually all aspects of the ICC Statute that require state action and cooperation.