The Local Government (Amendment) Act. 2026

ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia. 1. This Act may be cited as the Local Government
(Amendment) Act, 2026, and shall be read as one with the Local
Government Act, in this Act referred to as the principal Act. 2. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 53
and the substitution therefor of the following:
53. (1) A councillor shall perform civic duties
and responsibilities with dignity and integrity in
accordance with the code of ethics set out in the Fifth
Schedule. (2) The civic duties and responsibilities set out
in the Fifth Schedule shall apply to a Member of
Parliament, a mayor or council chairperson and a
chief sitting as a member of a council in accordance
with Article 153 of the Constitution. 3. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of the Third
Schedule and the substitution therefor of the Third Schedule set
out in the Appendix. Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 911
Cap. 281
Enactment
Short title
Repeal and
replacement
of section
53
Civic duties
and
responsibilities
Cap. 1
Repeal and
replacement
of Third
Schedule
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No.

le
Repeal and
replacement
of section
53
Civic duties
and
responsibilities
Cap. 1
Repeal and
replacement
of Third
Schedule
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No.

76 of 2026
Date of Assent: 4th June, 2026
An Act to amend the Local Government Act
[12th June, 2026
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K20.00 each.

overnment Act
[12th June, 2026
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K20.00 each.

912 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)
APPENDIX
(Section 3)
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Section 15)
PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL
1. (1) A council shall hold an ordinary meeting for the
transaction of business at least once in every three months at a place,
on a day and at a time that the council may appoint. (2) Despite subparagraph (1), a newly established council shall
hold its first ordinary meeting within three months from the date of
its establishment. (3) A mayor or council chairperson may, with the approval of
the Provincial Local Government Officer, convene a special meeting
of the council at any time, and shall convene a special meeting within
twenty one days, or a lesser period that may be prescribed by the
standing orders of the council, after the mayor receives a written
request for a meeting signed by not less than one third of the members
of a council and stating the reasons for the special meeting. 2.

ives a written
request for a meeting signed by not less than one third of the members
of a council and stating the reasons for the special meeting. 2.

(1) The principal officer of a council shall, not less than
fourteen days before the time appointed for the holding of a meeting
of a council, notify a member of a council, in writing, of the place,
day and time of the meeting and of the business proposed to be
transacted at the meeting. (2) Business shall not be transacted at a special meeting of a
council except business specified in the notice relating to the special
meeting. 3. (1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph —
(a) at an ordinary meeting of a council, one half of the total
number of the members of a council shall form a quorum;
or
(b) at a special meeting of a council, two thirds of the total
number of the members of a council shall form a quorum. (2) Where there is a vacancy in the membership of a council or
a member of a council declares interest under paragraph 6,
Ordinary
and special
meetings
Notice of
meetings
Quorum

y in the membership of a council or
a member of a council declares interest under paragraph 6,
Ordinary
and special
meetings
Notice of
meetings
Quorum

Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 913
the quorum of that council in any proceedings relating to a question
shall be two thirds of the members of a council who are at the
same time able to take part in the consideration or discussion of,
or to vote on, that question to be determined by the members of a
council holding office who have not declared interest under
paragraph 6. 4. There shall preside at a meeting of a council—
(a) the mayor or council chairperson;
(b) in the absence of the mayor or council chairperson, the
deputy mayor or deputy council chairperson; or
(c) in the absence of the mayor and the deputy mayor, or the
council chairperson and the deputy council chairperson,
a member of that council elected at that meeting. 5. A decision of a council on a question shall be by a majority
of the members of a council present and voting at a meeting, and
in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the
meeting shall have a casting vote, in addition to that person’s
deliberative vote. 6.

n the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the
meeting shall have a casting vote, in addition to that person’s
deliberative vote. 6.

(1) If a member of a council has any pecuniary interest,
direct or indirect, in any contract, proposed contract or other matter,
and is present at a meeting of the council at which that contract,
proposed contract or other matter is the subject of consideration,
that member shall, at the meeting, as soon as is practicable after
the commencement of the meeting, disclose the fact, and shall not
take part in the consideration or discussion of, or vote on a question
with respect to, the contract, proposed contract or other matter. (2) Subparagraph (1) shall not apply to an interest in a contract,
proposed contract or other matter which a member of a council
may have as an occupier of a house owned by the council, as a rate
payer or inhabitant of the area of the council, as an ordinary
consumer of electricity or water, or to an interest in any matter
relating to the terms on which the right to participate in any service,
including the supply of goods, is offered to the public.

nterest in any matter
relating to the terms on which the right to participate in any service,
including the supply of goods, is offered to the public.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph, a person shall be treated
as having indirectly a pecuniary interest in a contract, proposed
contract or other matter, if —
Presiding in
council
Voting in
council
Disclosure of
Interest

g indirectly a pecuniary interest in a contract, proposed
contract or other matter, if —
Presiding in
council
Voting in
council
Disclosure of
Interest

(a) the person or any nominee of the person is a member or
director of a company or other body with which the
contract is made or is proposed to be made or which has
a direct pecuniary interest in the matter under
consideration; or
(b) the person is a partner, or is in the employment, of a person
with whom the contract is made or is proposed to be made
or who has a direct pecuniary interest in the other matter
under consideration. (4) Subparagraph (3) shall not apply to membership of, or
employment under, any statutory corporation. (5) A member or director of a company or body shall not, by
reason only of the persons membership or directorship, be treated as
having indirectly a pecuniary interest in a contract, proposed contract
or other matter if the person is not beneficially interested in any
shares of that company or other body.

ry interest in a contract, proposed contract
or other matter if the person is not beneficially interested in any
shares of that company or other body.

(6) Where a member of a council has indirectly a pecuniary
interest in a contract, proposed contract or other matter and would
not fall to be treated as having an interest but for the fact that, that
member has a beneficial interest in shares of a company or other
body then, if the total nominal value of these shares does not exceed
one hundredth of the total nominal value of the issued share capital
of the company or body, so much of subparagraph (1) as prohibits
that person from taking part in the consideration or discussion of,
and from voting on a question with respect to, the contract, proposed
contract or other matter shall not apply to the person, without
prejudice, however, to the duty of disclosure imposed by
subparagraph (1), except that, where the share of the company or
other body is of more than one class, this subparagraph shall not
apply if the total nominal value of all the shares of any one class in
which the person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth
part of the total issued share capital of that class of the company or
other body.

in
which the person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth
part of the total issued share capital of that class of the company or
other body.

(7) In the case of married persons, the interest of one spouse
shall, if known to the other be deemed for the purpose of this
paragraph to also be an interest of that other spouse. 914 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)

to the other be deemed for the purpose of this
paragraph to also be an interest of that other spouse. 914 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)

(8) A general notice given in writing to the principal officer
of a council by a member of a council to the effect that the member
of a council or the member’s spouse is a member or director or in
the employment of a specified company or other body, or that the
member or the member’s spouse is a partner or in the employment
of a specified person, shall, unless and until the notice is withdrawn,
be deemed to be a sufficient disclosure of the member’s interest in
any contract, proposed contract or other matter relating to that
company or other body or to that person which may be the subject
of consideration after the date of the notice. (9) The principal officer of a council shall record in a book to
be kept for that purpose, particulars of any disclosure made under
subparagraph (1), and of any notice given under subparagraph (8),
and the book shall be open at all reasonable times to the inspection
of any member of a council. (10) If any person fails to comply with the provisions of
subparagraph (1), the person shall for each offence be liable, on
conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen
years.

e provisions of
subparagraph (1), the person shall for each offence be liable, on
conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen
years.

(11) Prosecution shall not be instituted against any person for
an offence under this paragraph except by or on behalf of the
Director of Public Prosecutions. (12) The Minister may, subject to conditions that the Minister
may consider fit to impose, remove any restriction imposed by
this section in any case in which the number of the members of a
council so restricted at any one time would be so great a proportion
of the total number of the members of a council as to impede the
transaction of business, or in any other case in which it appears to
the Minister that it is in the interests of the inhabitants of the area
of a council that the restriction should be removed. (13) In this paragraph, the expression “shares” includes stock
and the expression “share capital” shall be construed accordingly. 7. (1) A council may adjourn any meeting of the council from
time to time and from place to place. Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 915
Adjournment
of meetings

adjourn any meeting of the council from
time to time and from place to place. Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 915
Adjournment
of meetings

(2) If at a meeting of a council a quorum is not formed, the
members of a council present or, if there are no members present,
the principal officer of the council shall adjourn the meeting and
may appoint for the adjourned meeting, a place, day and time that
may be considered suitable. 8. (1) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (2), a meeting
of a council or committee of a council shall be open to the public,
physically or electronically. (2) A council or committee of a council may, by resolution,
exclude the public from a meeting whenever publicity would be
prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature
of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons stated
in the resolution and arising from the nature of that business or of
the proceedings.

he business to be transacted or for other special reasons stated
in the resolution and arising from the nature of that business or of
the proceedings.

(3) The provisions of this paragraph shall be without prejudice
to any power of exclusion conferred by the standing orders of a
council for preserving order at meetings of a council and nothing
in this section contained shall be construed as requiring a council
to permit the taking of photographs of any proceedings, or the use
of any means to enable persons not present to see or hear any
proceedings or the making of any oral report on any proceedings
as they take place. 9. (1) A council shall cause minutes to be kept in the English
language of the proceedings at a meeting of the council and shall
cause to be recorded the names of the members of a council present
at that meeting. (2) The minutes of the proceedings of a council shall, after
amendment if necessary, be confirmed by the council as a true
record of the proceedings and signed by the person presiding at
the meeting or the next meeting of the council. (3) Within one month after the minutes of any proceedings of
a council have been confirmed and signed, there shall be furnished
to the Minister a number of copies of the minutes that the Minister
may determine.

a council have been confirmed and signed, there shall be furnished
to the Minister a number of copies of the minutes that the Minister
may determine.

(4) The minutes of the proceedings of a council, other than
proceedings from which the public have been excluded in
pursuance of a resolution adopted under paragraph 8(2), shall, at
all reasonable times, be open to the inspection of any interested
person. 916 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)
Minutes of
council
meetings
Admission
of public to
meetings

the inspection of any interested
person. 916 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)
Minutes of
council
meetings
Admission
of public to
meetings

10. (1) A council may establish standing and occasional
committees consisting of a number of members that the council
may determine, for the purpose of examining and reporting on any
matter and of discharging any functions of the council delegated
to the committee under this Act. (2) A council consisting of more than six members of the
council shall in the exercise of the powers conferred by
subparagraph (1), establish a standing committee for the purpose
of —
(a) advising the council on financial matters; and
(b) discharging functions of the council relating to finance
that may be delegated to it under this Act or as may be
conferred or imposed on it by or under any other written
law. (3) A council may abolish any committee, established by it
under this paragraph, except a standing committee. 11.

t by or under any other written
law. (3) A council may abolish any committee, established by it
under this paragraph, except a standing committee. 11.

(1) The members of a committee shall be appointed by
the council from amongst persons who are members of a council
or are qualified for election as councillors, except that—
(a) a person other than a member of the council shall not be
a member of a standing committee; and
(b) not less than two thirds of the members of a committee,
other than a standing committee, shall be members of a
council. (2) A person shall cease to be a member of a committee if—
(a) being a member of a council at the time of the person’s
appointment, the person ceases to be a member of a
council; or
(b) not being a member of a council at the time of the person’s
appointment, the person ceases to be qualified for
election as a councillor; or
(c) the person’s appointment is revoked by the council. Standing
and
occasional
committee
Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 917
Membership
of committee

on’s appointment is revoked by the council. Standing
and
occasional
committee
Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 917
Membership
of committee

(3) There shall be a chairperson of every committee, who shall
be elected by the committee from among the members of the
committee who are members of a council and who shall hold office
until a time that the chairperson—
(a) ceases to be a member of the committee; or
(b) is removed from office by the committee, except that, in
the exercise of its powers under this subparagraph, a
committee shall act in accordance with any directions
of the council. 12. (1) Meetings of a committee shall be held as required and
may be adjourned from time to time and from place to place. (2) The meetings of the committee shall be open to the public. (3) The quorum at a meeting of a committee shall be a number
of members that may be prescribed by the standing orders of the
council or, if no quorum is so prescribed, two members of that
committee. (4) There shall preside at any meeting of a committee —
(a) the chairperson; or
(b) in the absence of the chairperson, a member of the
committee that the committee may elect for that
meeting.

a committee —
(a) the chairperson; or
(b) in the absence of the chairperson, a member of the
committee that the committee may elect for that
meeting.

(5) Any question proposed for decision by a committee shall
be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present
and voting at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is
present. (6) At a meeting of a committee, each member present shall
have one vote on a question proposed for decision by that
committee and, in the event of an equality of votes, the person
presiding at the meeting shall have, in addition to a deliberative
vote, a casting vote. (7) Paragraph 6 applies in respect of members of a committee
with the necessary modifications. 13. (1) A committee shall cause minutes to be kept in the
English language of the proceedings at every meeting of the
committee and shall cause to be recorded the names of the members
of the committee present at that meeting. Proceedings
of
committees
Minutes of
meetings of
committees
918 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)

of the committee present at that meeting. Proceedings
of
committees
Minutes of
meetings of
committees
918 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)

(2) The minutes of the proceedings of a committee shall, after
amendment if necessary, be confirmed by the committee as a true
record of the proceedings and signed by the person presiding at
the same or the next meeting of the committee. (3) Within one month after the minutes of any proceedings of
a committee are confirmed and signed, there shall be furnished to
the Minister a number of copies of the Minutes as the Minister
may determine. (4) The minutes of proceedings at a meeting of a committee
that relate to the discharge of functions delegated to it by the council
shall, at all reasonable times, be open to the inspection of any
interested person, except that, the provisions of this subparagraph
shall not apply to the minutes of any proceedings the disclosure of
which is deemed by the committee to be prejudicial to the public
interest. 14. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this paragraph, a
council may delegate, either absolutely or conditionally, to a
committee or to any officer of the council the power to discharge
any function of the council on behalf of the council.

olutely or conditionally, to a
committee or to any officer of the council the power to discharge
any function of the council on behalf of the council.

(2) A local authority shall not—
(a) delegate the power to discharge any functions of the
council to a committee which includes persons who are
not members of a council; or
(b) delegate to any committee the power to—
(i) levy a rate;
(ii) adopt estimates of the revenues and expenditure
of the council;
(iii) borrow money;
(iv) impose fees and charges;
(v) to make by-laws; or
(vi) in the case of a city council or municipal council,
to make appointments to the dignity of
alderman or to admit or annul the admission of
a person to the status of honorary freeman of
the city or municipality. Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 919
Delegation
of meetings
of council
to
committee

tatus of honorary freeman of
the city or municipality. Local Government (Amendment) [No. 76 of 2026 919
Delegation
of meetings
of council
to
committee

(3) A council may withdraw or alter any delegation to a
committee, but the withdrawal or alteration shall not affect anything
done in pursuance of any decision lawfully taken by the committee. (4) Any function discharged by a committee in the exercise of
powers delegated to it under this paragraph shall be deemed to
have been discharged by the council. 15. At one of the next two ordinary meetings of a council held
after a meeting of a committee, the proceedings at the meeting of
the committee shall be reported to the council for its consideration
or, in the case of proceedings which relate to the discharge of
functions delegated to the committee, for its information. 16. (1) A committee may, from among its members, appoint
sub- committees for the purpose of examining and reporting on
any matter. (2) Subject to the provisions of the standing orders of a council,
a sub-committee shall determine its own procedure. (3) A sub-committee shall not discharge any functions of the
council which have been delegated to the committee by which it
was appointed. 17.

cedure. (3) A sub-committee shall not discharge any functions of the
council which have been delegated to the committee by which it
was appointed. 17.

An officer or employee of a council is not personally liable
in respect of an act done by that officer or employee in the execution
of the provisions of this Act or any other law and within the scope
of the officer or employee’s employment, if the officer or employee
did that act in the honest belief that the officer or employee’s duty
under this Act or that law required or entitled the officer or employee
to do it, except, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as
relieving a council from any liability in respect of acts of its officer
or employee. Reports by
committees
Sub-
committes
Immunity
920 No. 76 of 2026] Local Government (Amendment)