Zambia Parliamentary Reform Project (PRP)

November 2002 - June 2007

In November 1991, Zambia became one of the first African countries to revert to a multiparty rule, after having made a shift to a one party rule in 1972, just eight years after independence. The new government embarked on two main reform programs: to restructure the economy into a private- sector-driven economy and a good governance program to enhance a stable political and democratic system of government.

Since that time political reform has achieved a number of milestones. However, Zambian civil society advocates have identified a number of issues that need to be addressed for the government to guarantee constitutional legitimacy: accountability; transparent decision-making procedures; participatory development; democracy; respect for human rights and adherence to the rule of law.

In January 2002 for the first time in Zambian history, a Parliament in which opposition parties held a slight majority was sworn in. This historic shift created tremendous opportunities for strengthening the institution of Parliament and implementing some of the systemic changes necessary to make Zambia's evolving democracy function more effectively.

Stage I - November 2002 to December 2003

In order to seize this opportunity, the National Assembly of Zambia and the Parliamentary Working Group of Donors joined efforts in November, 2002 to support parliamentary reform. This agreement, Statement of Intent Stage I, was signed by the National Assembly and the Canadian High Commission, Embassy of Ireland, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Embassy of Sweden and USAID/Zambia. The agreement suggested a two-stage process for reform, PRP Stage I being the design and planning phase and Stage II implementation. To implement Stage I, the donor group, through USAID, contracted Pact Zambia as the executing agency to implement this planning phase.

In November 2002 USAID amended Pact Zambia's Increased Public Debate Associate Award, adding a program component on parliamentary reform, through which Pact/Zambia provided support to achieve parliamentary reforms in Zambia and to increase parliament-civil society interaction for improved public debate. The Donor Group contributed additional funds.

Pact's approach

The donor group requested that Pact Zambia use the Government of Zambia's reform report entitled Approved Recommendations on Reforms in the Zambian Parliament as the guiding program document. Pact Zambia managed this project in cooperation with the Reforms and Modernizations Committee of the National Assembly. Through a subgrant to the Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development, Pact Zambia provided government, donors and civil society the space necessary for quality input in the development of the major project document.

Results

• Produced project document that defines the goals, vision and approaches to reform
• Launched eleven pilot constituency offices whose objective was to increase communications between voters and Members of Parliament.
• Facilitated reform activities including:
  • A review of Standing Orders and Article 81 of the constitution
  • Development of indexes for bills and committee hearings
  • Revision of the Zambia Parliament Handbook
  • Development of National Assembly and Civil Society directories.

Stage II - December 2003 to November 2006

Stage II of the Parliamentary Reform Project provides ongoing support to further strengthen the capacity of the National Assembly of Zambia to perform the functions entrusted to it by the Constitution. The project is supported in a cost-sharing arrangement with bilateral donors, including USAID and the Government of Zambia. The aim is to implement the reforms adopted by the Assembly and make them fully operational as a key instrument of multiparty democracy and of accountable and transparent governance. The objective of the reforms (and hence of this project) is: to increase the independence and effectiveness of the National Assembly as a representative agent of oversight, change, and reform in the democratic governance of Zambia.

The goal of PRP II is a "REAL Parliament for Zambia"—a Parliament that is:

• Representative and Responsive
• Efficient and Effective
• Accountable and Accessible
• Legitimate and Linked

Pact's approach

Pact has been designated as the executing agency of PRP II. As such Pact Zambia will coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the strategies developed in the PRP Project Document, namely to:

• Develop the capacity of the National Assembly to effectively play the roles assigned to it by the constitution (i.e., representation, legislation, accountability and oversight).
• Strengthen MPs understanding of their roles as representatives of their constituencies and permanent staff of their role as professional public servants.
• Develop strong committees, trained and equipped to effectively hold the executive to account.
• Develop a permanent professional staff trained to serve MPs in a nonpartisan manner.
• Apply principles of good governance—accountability, openness and transparency—in all aspects of Parliament's activities and ensure that government does so as well.
• Improve contact with the population, particularly through strengthening the relations between MPs and their constituents/constituencies.
• Strive to implement reforms that will contribute positively to the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development and the National HIV/AIDS Policy for Zambia.

Interim results

• The Project Steering Committee, which has overall responsibility for PRP II, decided to establish fixed offices for MPs in all the 150 constituencies of Zambia. Pact Zambia was requested by Parliament to develop a project document aimed at soliciting resources for this venture, which is expected to cost more than US$10 million.
• A draft Parliamentary Service Commission bill has been developed and is expected to be approved at the next session of Parliament in November 2004.
• The Parliamentary Reforms and Modernisation Committees of Parliament undertook a study tour to visit the Board of Management in Canada. Other Committees of Parliament traveled to other parliaments in Africa to study Committee work in other legislatures. These included the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights and Gender matters.
• A best practice workshop on anticorruption and a best practice workshop on the budget cycle were held for the oversight committees of Parliament
• Staff members of Parliament were sent to parliaments in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia to be exposed to best practices in other multi-party parliaments.
• A National Assembly Directory of Members of Parliament and another one for Civil Society organizations that work with committees of Parliament have been developed
• A site for a Visitor and Media Centre has been identified and Parliament is drawing up architectural plans.

Staff contacts

Brenda Liswanisio
Country Rep
Pact Zambia
011-260 1 230-458
Plot 3039, Makishi Road, Lusaka, Zambia
brendal@pactzambia.org

Priscilla Ndlovu
Program Officer
Pact HQ
202.466-5666
pndlovu@pacthq.org