By AARON CHIYANZO
CABINET has approved for publication and introduction in Parliament the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Bill, 2021 which is aimed at strengthening the functions of the Drug Enforcement Commission.
It also seeks to revise and consolidate the law relating to narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals and provision for special measures relating to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse.
Chief Government spokesperson, Dora Siliya said the approval of the Bill was in line with the earlier approval of the “The Cannabis Bill, 2021,” and “The Industrial Hemp Bill, 2021,” the two Bills of which were already in Parliament for enactment.
Ms Siliya said Cabinet at the fifth cabinet meeting held virtually yesterday also approved the National Lands Policy and its Implementation Plan to improve land delivery systems in the country for the benefit of present and future generations.
She said the policy intended to guide land administration and management to open up opportunities for every Zambian to access and secure their interests in land, regardless of status.
Ms Siliya said it would also strengthen security of tenure and enhance management of land resources.
“The country has had no comprehensive Land Policy from independence to date,” she said.
And Ms Siliya said Cabinet also approved for publication and introduction in Parliament, “The Insurance Bill, 2021 aimed at regulating the insurance industry; provide for the supervision of insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries among other objectives.
Also approved, Ms Siliya said, was the conduct of the National Census of Population and Housing to be conducted in November, 2021 to gather information to be used for planning and management of Government programmes and policies.
“Cabinet accepted that this should be an e-Census, which will be the first of its kind in Zambia,” Ms Siliya said.
Cabinet also approved the Zambia Correctional Service Bill, 2021 and the Electronic Government Bill, 2021.
It also approved the removal of Zambia Airports Corporation Limited from the 1994 Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Divestiture Sequence Plan for State-Owned Enterprises scheduled for privatisation.
Cabinet also approved a nine-member Board to provide strategic policy direction to the ZDA as required by Section 8 of the Statistics Act No. 13 of 2018.
