The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2026

An Act to amend the Disaster Management Act. [8th April, 2026
ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia. 1. This Act may be cited as the Disaster Management
(Amendment) Act, 2026, and shall be read as one with the Disaster
Management Act, in this Act referred to as the principal Act. 2. Section 2 of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) deletion of the—
(i) definition of “Unit”; and
(ii) definitions of “Council”, “District Committee”,
“District Development Coordinating Committee”,
“Provincial Committee”, “Provincial Development
Coordinating Committee”, “Satellite Committee”
and “Technical Committee” and the substitution
therefor of the following in the appropriate places
in alphabetical order:
“Council” means the National Disaster Risk
Management Council established under
section 8;
“District Committee” means the District
Disaster Risk Management Committee
constituted under section 21;
Enactment
Short title
Cap. 132
Amendment
of section 2
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No. 2 of 2026
Date of Assent: 31st March, 2026
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P. O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka.

T
No. 2 of 2026
Date of Assent: 31st March, 2026
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P. O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka.

Price K24.00 each
Supplement to the Republic of Zambia Government
Gazette dated Wednesday, 8th April, 2026 [No. 2 of 2026 37

Price K24.00 each
Supplement to the Republic of Zambia Government
Gazette dated Wednesday, 8th April, 2026 [No. 2 of 2026 37

“District Development Coordinating
Committee” means the District
Development Coordinating Committee
constituted under the National Planning
and Budgeting Act, 2020;
“Provincial Committee”means the Provincial
Disaster Risk Management Committee
constituted under section 16;
“Provincial Development Coordinating
Committee” means the Provincial
Development Coordinating Committee
constituted under the National Planning
and Budgeting Act, 2020;
“Satellite Committee” means the Satellite
Disaster Risk Management Committee
constituted under section 26; and
“Technical Committee” means the National
Disaster Risk Management Technical
Committee constituted under section
10;; and
(b) insertion of the following new definitions in the appropriate
places in alphabetical order:
“adaptation” has the meaning assigned to the
word in the Green Economy and
Climate Change Act, 2024;
“Division” means the National Disaster Risk
Management Division established
under section 4;
“disaster risk management plan” means a
plan for disaster prevention, mitigation,
preparedness, response and recovery;
“National Disaster Risk Management
Structure” means a structure designed
to minimise the impact of a disaster by
integrating prevention, mitigation,
preparedness, response and recovery
efforts which involves an institutional
framework consisting of the Technical
Committee, Provincial Committee,
District Committee and Satellite
Committee;
38 No.

ch involves an institutional
framework consisting of the Technical
Committee, Provincial Committee,
District Committee and Satellite
Committee;
38 No.

2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)
Act No. 1 of
2020
Act No. 18 of
2024
Act No.1 of
2020

2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)
Act No. 1 of
2020
Act No. 18 of
2024
Act No.1 of
2020

“national security services” means the
national security services established
under the Constitution; and
“Zambia Police Service” means the Zambia
Police Service established under the
Constitution. 3. The principal Act is amended in Part II by the repeal of the
heading and the substitution therefor of the following:
PART II
THE NATIONAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION
4. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 4
and the substitution therefor of the following:
4. There is established the National Disaster Risk
Management Division in the Office of the Vice-
President, which shall be responsible for the
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 5. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 5 and
the substitution therefor of the following:
5. (1) The Division shall be responsible for
implementing disaster risk management programmes
and activities in the Republic.

erefor of the following:
5. (1) The Division shall be responsible for
implementing disaster risk management programmes
and activities in the Republic.

(2) Despite the generality of subsection (1),
the functions of the Division are to—
(a) act as the central planning, coordinating
and monitoring institution, taking into
account potential disaster risks, for—
(i) the prevention and mitigation of a
disaster;
(ii) the preparedness and response to a
disaster; and
(iii) post-disaster recovery;
(b) advise the Technical Committee on
matters relating to disaster risk
management and management of
disaster relief operations;
(c) warn the public of an imminent disaster
and predict the effects of the disaster;
[No. 2 of 2026 39Disaster Management (Amendment)
Cap. 1
Repeal and
replacement
of heading to
Part II
Cap. 1
Repeal and
replacement
of section 4
Establishment
of National
Disaster
Risk
Management
Division
Repeal and
replacement
of section 5
Functions of
Division

eal and
replacement
of section 4
Establishment
of National
Disaster
Risk
Management
Division
Repeal and
replacement
of section 5
Functions of
Division

(d) maintain a data collection and
dissemination system, national strategic
reserves of essential commodities and
equipment, for purposes of immediate
disaster relief;
(e) formulate disaster prevention,
mitigation, preparedness, response
and rehabilitation strategies and action
plans to meet foreseeablere quirements
in collaboration with Government
agencies, non-governmental organisations,
donor agencies and other cooperating
partners;
(f) prepare and update disaster risk
management plans and the supporting
disaster risk management manual;
(g) prepare an over-arching national disaster
contingency plan and coordinate cross
sectoral disaster contingency plans;
(h) establish an early warning system
covering all sectors and hazard sources
and maintain close links with different
institutions that provide early warning
services;
(i) develop and sustain viable and effective
structures and capacities at national,
provincial, district and satellite level;
(j)take necessary measures in order to
prevent, alleviate, contain and minimise
the effects of a disaster;
(k) conduct public and media briefings on
risks and disaster related programmes,
progress and constraints;
(l) act as an advisory and consultative body
on issues relating to disasters and
disaster risk management;
(m) develop post-disaster reconstruction,
rehabilitation and recovery plans in
collaboration with relevant stakeholders;
(n) promote the recruitment, training and
participation of volunteers in disaster
risk management;
40 No.

in
collaboration with relevant stakeholders;
(n) promote the recruitment, training and
participation of volunteers in disaster
risk management;
40 No.

2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)

2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)

(o) establish and manage a national
emergency operations centre, which
shall be—
(i) the nerve centre to monitor hazards,
risks and emergencies; and
(ii) linked to the normal operations of
the Division;
(p) act as a central clearing house for the
reporting of a disaster and dissemination
of information from the Council and
Technical Committee before, during
and after a disaster;
(q) conduct comprehensive vulnerability and
risk assessments before, during and
after a disaster;
(r) collaborate with other institutions and
organisations which are responsible for
disaster risk management at national,
regional and international level;
(s) promote the integration of disaster risk
reduction and climate change
adaptation for purposes of enhancing
capacities and strengthening resilience
of communities; and
(t) maintain, and cause to be maintained,
adequate response capacity and
equipment to facilitate timely, effective
and efficient response to a recurrent
and anticipated disaster including—
(i) ground and aerial assessment and
analysis tools for capturing spatial
and digital data and images;
(ii) ground and aerial transportation and
haulage equipment sufficient for
timely and efficient dispatch of
supplies to a disaster affected
area;
(iii) ground and aerial transportation
equipment for timely and efficient
dispatch of emergency response
teams, equipment and materials;
[No.

ed
area;
(iii) ground and aerial transportation
equipment for timely and efficient
dispatch of emergency response
teams, equipment and materials;
[No.

2 of 2026 41Disaster Management (Amendment)

2 of 2026 41Disaster Management (Amendment)

(iv) warehousing infrastructure,
equipment and tools which enable
timely receipt, organisation,
documentation and dispatch of
relief supplies; and
(v) equipment and tools for emergency
reconstruction and rehabilitation of
a disaster affected infrastructure. (3) The functions of the Division shall be
guided by the humanitarian principle of do no harm. (4) The Division shall be the secretariat to the
National Disaster Risk Management Structure. 6. Section 7 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion of
subsection (3) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(3) The Division shall—
(a) monitor—
(i) progress with the preparation, and regular update,
of disaster risk management plans and business
continuity plans by a person, institution or
organisation involved in disaster risk
management; and
(ii) formal and informal prevention, mitigation and
response initiatives by Government departments
and ministries, the private sector, non-
governmental organisations and communities,
including the integration of the initiatives with
development risk plans; and
(b) measure performance and evaluate the progress and
initiatives referred to under paragraph (a). 7.

the initiatives with
development risk plans; and
(b) measure performance and evaluate the progress and
initiatives referred to under paragraph (a). 7.

Section 8 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of—
(a) the marginal note and the substitution therefor of the
following:
Establishment of National Disaster Risk Management
Council; and
(b) subsection (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(1) There is established the National Disaster
Risk Management Council. 8. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 9
and the substitution therefor of the following:
9. The functions of the Council are to—
(a) formulate and update the national
disaster risk management policy;
42 No. 2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 7
Amendment
of section 8
Repeal and
replacement
of section 9
Functions of
Council

No. 2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 7
Amendment
of section 8
Repeal and
replacement
of section 9
Functions of
Council

(b) direct line ministries to take up their
responsibility during disaster and
non-disaster periods;
(c) mobilise resources for disaster risk
management;
(d) approve national disaster risk
management plans and guidelines;
and
(e) recommend to the President, the
declaration of a national disaster. 9. Section 10 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of —
(a) the marginal note and the substitution therefor of the
following:
Constitution of National Disaster Risk Management
Technical Committee; and
(b) subsection (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(1) There is constituted the National
Disaster Risk Management Technical
Committee. 10. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 11
and the substitution therefor of the following:
11.

Risk Management Technical
Committee. 10. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 11
and the substitution therefor of the following:
11.

The functions of the Technical Committee are
to—
(a) recommend policy and programme
direction to the Council;
(b) co-ordinate the implementation of
the decisions of the Council, using
the sectoral skills and resources
of line ministries;
(c) supervise disaster risk management
activities in the Republic and
co-ordinate the disaster risk
management content of
development and reconstruction
programmes;
(d) supervise the work of the Division
in the monitoring and review of
disaster risk management plans;
(e) control disbursement of funds from
the Trust Fund;
[No. 2 of 2026 43Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 10
Repeal and
replacement
of section 11
Functions of
Technical
Committee

t Fund;
[No. 2 of 2026 43Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 10
Repeal and
replacement
of section 11
Functions of
Technical
Committee

(f) formulate a unified national early
warning protocol to articulate
responsibilities of institutions
and agencies in charge of
meteorological, hydrological,
geological, biological and medical
services; and
(g) formulate a national early warning
disseminating strategy to co-
ordinate agencies that interact
with communities and economic
sectors. 11. Section 13 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of subsection (5) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(5) The Civil Service Commission shall
appoint, as public officers, other staff of the
Division necessary for the performance of the
functions of the Division. 12. Section 14(1) of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) insertion of the following new paragraph immediately
after paragraph (i):
(j) proposed addresses, locations and coordinates
for resettlement schemes;; and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (j) and (k) as paragraphs (k)
and (l), respectively. 13. The principal Act is amended in Part III by the repeal of
the heading and the substitution therefor of the following:
PART III
PROVINCIAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
14.

d in Part III by the repeal of
the heading and the substitution therefor of the following:
PART III
PROVINCIAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
14.

The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 16
and the substitution therefor of the following:
16. There is constituted a Provincial
Disaster Risk Management Committee in each
Province of the Republic, which shall be a sub-
committee of the Provincial Development
Coordinating Committee. 44 No. 2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 13
Repeal and
replacement
of heading
to Part III
Constitution
of Provincial
Disaster
Risk
Management
Committee
Amendment
of section 14
Repeal and
replacement
of section 16

ment
of heading
to Part III
Constitution
of Provincial
Disaster
Risk
Management
Committee
Amendment
of section 14
Repeal and
replacement
of section 16

15. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section
19 and the substitution therefor of the following:
19. (1) The Civil Service Commission shall
appoint, as a public officer, a Provincial Disaster Risk
Management Coordinator. (2) The Provincial Disaster Risk Management
Coordinator shall provide technical advisory support
to a Provincial Committee, District Committee and
Satellite Committee. 16. The principal Act is amended in Part IV by the deletion of
the heading and the substitution therefor of the following:
PART IV
DISTRICT AND SATELLITE DISASTER RISK
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
17.

by the deletion of
the heading and the substitution therefor of the following:
PART IV
DISTRICT AND SATELLITE DISASTER RISK
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
17.

Section 21 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of —
(a) subsection (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(1) There is constituted a District Disaster
Risk Management Committee in each district which
shall be a sub-committee of the District Development
Coordinating Committee.;
(b) subsection (2) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(2) A District Committee consists of the
following part-time members appointed by the
Provincial Permanent Secretary:
(a) the District Commissioner, as the
Chairperson;
(b) seven representatives of Government
departments in the district;
(c) Members of Parliament in the district;
(d) a representative of the Zambia Red Cross
Society;
(e) a representative each of the non-
governmental organisations and
community-based organisations involved
in disaster management in the district;
[No. 2 of 2026 45Disaster Management (Amendment)
Repeal and
replacement
of section
19
Provincial
Disaster Risk
Management
Coordinator
Repeal and
replacement
of heading to
Part IV
Amendment
of section 21

eal and
replacement
of section
19
Provincial
Disaster Risk
Management
Coordinator
Repeal and
replacement
of heading to
Part IV
Amendment
of section 21

(f)a representative of a religious organisation
in the district; and
(g) one person from the private sector with
relevant knowledge and experience in
matters relating to this Act; and
(c) subsection (3) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(3) The District Disaster Risk
Management Co-ordinator shall be the
secretary of the District Committee. 18. Section 24 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of subsection (3) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(3) The District Disaster Risk Management
Co-ordinator shall exercise the powers under this Act
in consultation with the Division, Zambia Police
Service, national security services and any other
institution involved in disaster risk management in the
district. 19. Section 37(1) of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of paragraph (l) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(l) emergency procurement procedures in
accordance with the Public Procurement Act,
2020;. 20. The principal Act is amended in Part VII by the deletion of
the heading and the substitution therefor of following:
PART VII
NATIONAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT PLANS
21.

is amended in Part VII by the deletion of
the heading and the substitution therefor of following:
PART VII
NATIONAL DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT PLANS
21.

Section 38 of the principal Act is amended by the deletion
of—
(a) the marginal note and the substitution therefor of the
following:
National disaster risk management plans; and
(b) subsection (1) and the substitution therefor of the following:
(1) The Division shall prepare over-
arching national disaster risk management plans
for emergencies and disasters in the Republic. 22. Section 40 of the principal Act is amended by—
(a) the insertion of the following new subsections immediately
after subsection (1):
46 No. 2 of 2026] Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 24
Amendment
of section 37
Act No. 8 of
2020
Repeal and
replacement
of heading to
Part VII
Amendment
of section 38
Amendment
of section 40

of section 24
Amendment
of section 37
Act No. 8 of
2020
Repeal and
replacement
of heading to
Part VII
Amendment
of section 38
Amendment
of section 40

(2) Each sector shall submit to the Division a sector
disaster risk management plan referred to under
subsection (1) which shall be consolidated into
the national disaster risk management plan. (3) The Division shall, where the capacity of a sector
disaster risk management plan referred to under
subsection (2) to respond to a disaster is
overwhelmed, coordinate the response to the
disaster in accordance with the national disaster
risk management plan.; and
(b) the renumbering of subsections (2), (3) and (4) as
subsections (4), (5) and (6), respectively. 23. Section 42(2) of the principal Act is amended by the—
(a) insertion of the following new paragraph immediately after
paragraph (d):
(e) the minimum relief requirements in humanitarian
response to a disaster;; and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (e) and (f) as paragraphs (f)
and (g), respectively. 24.

elief requirements in humanitarian
response to a disaster;; and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (e) and (f) as paragraphs (f)
and (g), respectively. 24.

The principal Act is amended by the deletion of the—
(a) words “Disaster Management Co-ordinator” wherever
the words appear and the substitution therefor of the
words “Disaster Risk Management Co-ordinator”;
(b) words “disaster management plan” wherever the words
appear and the substitution therefor of the words
“disaster risk management plan”;
(c) words “national disaster management plan” wherever the
words appear and the substitution therefor of the words
“national disaster risk management plan”;
(d) words “sector disaster management plan” wherever the
words appear and the substitution therefor of the words
“sector disaster risk management plan”; and
(e) word “Unit” wherever the word appears and the
substitution therefor of the word “Division”. [No. 2 of 2026 47Disaster Management (Amendment)
Amendment
of section 42
General
amendment

4 8