Zambia initiates national arms control bill to domesticate treaty on international arms transfer controls

Zambia has started drafting the National Conventional Arms Control Bill and its Regulations which are aimed at domesticating the treaty to advance human security, authorities have said.

The Bill aims to improve accountability, responsibility and transparency in international arms transfer controls, according to Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary, Maambo Hamaundu.

Hamaundu said this during the official opening of a workshop on the drafting of the National Conventional Arms Control Bill and its Regulations in Lusaka on Thursday.

Zambia became a state party to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on 18th August 2016 and is among the 116 state parties to the arms trade treaty and in Africa, 31 countries were state parties to the arms trade treaty.

“Being a state party to the Arms Trade Treaty obligates Zambia to domesticate the treaty so that it corresponds well with the local legal framework for effective implementation,” Hamaundu said.

He stated that the consequences of unregulated arms trade in recent decades had caused traditional inter-state wars resulting into internal and asymmetric conflicts, targeting civilian populations who have become the main victims of armed violence.

Haamaundu said the regulations for the domestication of the treaty are vital to the proper implementation of the act.

“The regulations will protect the rights and safety of citizens and ensure the delivery of public goods and services in a transparent and effective manner and will also result in an enhanced environment of peace and security, a pre-requisite to continued economic development,” Hamaundu said.

He noted the need for clarity and simplicity in the drafting process while ensuring that the fundamental aspects with regards to arms trade treaty are well covered.

Haamaundu said the Ministry would ensure that the Arms Trade Treaty was implemented in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the Zambian Constitution.

“It is my sincere hope that even as we conclude on the regulations, a clear road map on how the bill will be subjected to country wide stakeholder engagement shall be agreed upon,” he said.

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