The country in brief
The country's law, area by area
Marriage, partnership and divorce
Marriage · Partnerships and cohabitation · Same-sex marriage · Religious ceremony · Wedding customs and ceremonies · Matrimonial property and inheritance · Divorce
Children, family and inheritance
Names · Adoption · Assisted reproduction · Childcare · Step-families · Inheritance
Contraception, abortion, sexuality and drugs
Contraception · Abortion · Parents: a teenager’s first relationship · Sexual orientation · Drugs and controlled substances · Alcohol and tobacco
Violence, consent and sexual offences
Consent and age of consent · Domestic violence · Female genital mutilation · Sexual offences committed abroad
Online: privacy, image, data and scams
Data protection · Privacy · Image rights · Speech and online harassment · Copyright · Identity theft · Online shopping · Romance scams
Health: pregnancy, STIs and care
Pregnancy · Periods and period products · Mental health · Dental care · HIV and AIDS · Hepatitis B · HPV
Fundamental rights
Key points
| Constitution | Part III, Bill of Rights |
|---|---|
| Article 28 | Application to the High Court for redress |
| Referendum requirement | Expanding the Bill of Rights requires a referendum, which has not passed |
| Human Rights Commission | Investigates and recommends; no power to award compensation |
| Legal Aid Board | Statutory legal aid, subject to means |
| Directive principles | Socio-economic rights sit there and are not directly enforceable |
| Commission | Investigates and recommends but cannot award compensation |
Understanding the rules
Part III of the Constitution contains the Bill of Rights, largely in its pre-1996 form because attempts to expand it have required a referendum that has not succeeded. Article 28 allows a person who alleges a contravention to apply to the High Court for redress. The Human Rights Commission investigates complaints, particularly against state agencies, and makes recommendations.
In practice
- Frame claims around the enforceable civil and political rights in Part III.
Where to go
- Human Rights Commission of Zambia.
- Legal Aid Board.
- Legal Resources Foundation.
Worth knowing
Socio-economic rights sit in the directive principles rather than the Bill of Rights and are not directly enforceable: claims have to be framed around the enforceable civil and political rights. Socio-economic rights are not justiciable in Zambia. Claims must be built on the enforceable rights in the Bill of Rights.
The general article: Fundamental rights · Compare with another country
Advice
Sources
Whole page
- The Children's Code Act, 2022 (Act No. 12 of 2022) — Parlement de Zambie (National Assembly of Zambia), texte de la loi, 2022
- The Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Act, 2024 (Act No. 6 of 2024) — Parlement de Zambie (National Assembly of Zambia), texte de la loi, 2024
- The Anti-Gender-Based Violence (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Act No. 28 of 2026) — Parlement de Zambie (National Assembly of Zambia), texte de la loi, 2026
- Women, Business and the Law 2024: Zambia — Banque mondiale, Women, Business and the Law (WBL), 2024
Fundamental rights
- Zambia 1991 (rev. 2016) Constitution — Constitution de la Zambie (texte publié par Constitute Project), 2016
Official or institutional documents this page relies on, consulted on 12 October 2026. Links open in a new tab.
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