The legal and institutional framework for land administration in Zambia: The need for land reforms

Abstract

Since the colonial rule, the system of land administration in Zambia has not received adequate attention in terms of the legal and institutional reform in line with political and socio-economic changes and population growth. Even after attainment of independence in 1964, no clear legislation was put in to govern the procedure on land alienation. Currently, there are several statutes that are dealing with land alienation and there are several government ministries and departments that play a role in land identification, planning, surveying and title registration. The challenge faced with this type of legal and institutional structure is that there is lack of co-ordination among land alienation institutions and there are conflicting regulations in certain instances. There is need for equitable access to land as well as secure land tenure for the people of Zambia in order to cope with the current demand for land. This Obligatory Essay is the study of the Legal and Institutional framework for Land administration in Zambia in both state land and customary land. The study critically analyses the law governing land administration and evaluates the legal framework and institutions that are involved in land administration. During the study, it has been revealed that land administration in Zambia has continued to be based on and influenced by the colonial forms of tenure introduced during the colonial rule that have little relevance to the needs of the country. The study has concluded that the law relating to land administration should be revised comprehensively and the institutions involved in land alienation be restructured and decentralised in order for them to deliver land in an efficient, effective, transparent, democratic and equitable manner for the socio-economic development of the Zambian people and the country at large. It is my sincere hope that the findings of this study will provide a contribution to the scholarly works on the legal and institutional frameworks for land administration in Zambia.