Constitution of Zambia 1991, as amended to 2016
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    It is recognised and declared that every person in Zambia has been and shall continue to be entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed, sex or marital status, but subject to the limitations contained in this Part9, to each and all of the following, namely:

    d. protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation;
    … (Art. 11)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    1. Except as provided in this Article, no property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any description shall be compulsorily acquired, unless by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament which provides for payment of adequate compensation for the property or interest or right to be taken possession of or acquired.
    2. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of clause (1) to the extent that it is shown that such law provides for the taking possession or acquisition of any property or interest therein or right thereover—

    y. for the purpose of the administration or disposition of such property or interest or right by the President in implementation of a comprehensive land policy or of a policy designed to ensure that the statute law, the Common Law and the doctrines of equity relating to or affecting the interest in or rights over land, or any other interests or right enjoyed by Chiefs and persons claiming through and under them, shall apply with substantial uniformity throughout Zambia;
    z. in terms of any law providing for the conversion of titles to land from freehold to leasehold and the imposition of any restriction on subdivision, assignment or sub-letting;
    … (Art. 16)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    1. Subject to clauses (4), (5) and (7), no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.

    3. In this Article the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable, wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, sex, place of origin, marital status, political opinions, colour or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
    4. Clause (1) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-

    c. with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
    … (Art. 23)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    The institution of chieftaincy—

    b. has capacity to hold property in trust for its subjects. (Art. 166)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
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    1. Land shall be held, used and managed in accordance with the following principles:
    a. equitable access to land and associated resources;
    b. security of tenure for lawful land holders;
    c. recognition of indigenous cultural rites;
    d. sustainable use of land;
    e. transparent, effective and efficient administration of land;
    f. effective and efficient settlement of land disputes;
    g. river frontages, islands, lakeshores and ecologically and culturally sensitive areas—
    i. to be accessible to the public;
    ii. not to be leased, fenced or sold; and
    iii. to be maintained and used for conservation and preservation activities;
    h. investments in land to also benefit local communities and their economy; and
    i. plans for land use to be done in a consultative and participatory manner. (Art. 253)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
  • English
    In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires—

    • “property” includes a vested or contingent right to, or interest in, or arising from—
    a. land, permanent fixtures on, or improvements to, land;
    b. goods or personal property;
    … (Art. 266)
Links to all sites last visited 25 March 2024
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Part IV on Citizenship.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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These articles are from Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.
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Part III on Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.