Bill 13 raises storm, civil society protests

Bill 13 raises storm, civil society protests

By Tony Nkhoma

IF THE Lands and Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill No. 13 of 2025 will weaken the Judiciary and frighten investors if enacted into law, the Consortium of 11 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has warned.

The consortium’s chairperson Isaac Mwanza urged government to immediately withdraw the bill.

“At the heart of our concern is the proposed provision to grant the Chief Registrar of Lands, a civil servant, the discretionary power to cancel certificates of title. This is not only dangerous but retrogressive. The registrar cannot have such power which cannot be challenged,” Mwanza said.

He said the proposed amendment of the current law was a threat as it would fundamentally undermine the security of land tenure in Zambia by shifting critical judicial responsibilities to politically vulnerable civil servants.

“The move is a grave departure from the current legal framework, where such decisions lie with the Judiciary, an independent and constitutionally protected arm of government,” Mwanza said in a statement Monday.

He said allowing an appointed official to unilaterally revoke a certificate of title would weaken the power of the Judiciary.

Mwanza said Bill 13 would also encourage political interference and introduce anarchy into land tenure administration.

He said the bill risked sending a chilling message to investors, who he said placed confidence in countries where land tenure was secure and protected by the rule of law and not one where land titles could be arbitrarily cancelled under opaque administrative decisions.

Mwanza expressed worry that a system where title deeds could be revoked at the whim of civil servants who he said may themselves be implicated in land disputes, opened the door to land grabs and politically motivated targeting of political opponents.

“It is therefore alarming that the proposed amendment would legally empower civil servants with the unilateral authority to cancel land ownership documents, a power ripe for abuse. We therefore find it unjustifiable and dangerous that this (United Party for National Development (UPND) administration is now proposing to do so,” Mwanza said.

He said handing over such power to the executive arm of government through the lands department risks eroding Zambia’s land legacy and unleashing a wave of insecurity, both for ordinary landholders and investors.

Mwanza challenged members of Parliament to rise to the occasion and protect national interest by stopping the bill from progressing.

“Passing this Bill without due consideration will not only mark another failure, but it will also expose even those in the executive and legislature to the very abuse of power this law would permit,” said Mwanza.