The Centre for Innovating Development (CIDE) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) in Zambia during a strategic meeting held on the sidelines of the AfriPal Conference from 18–20 June 2025 in Kampala, Uganda.

The high-level dialogue brought together a delegation comprising Members of the Zambian Parliament, two parliamentary staff, a Senior Partner from CIDE, a Scottish Parliament clerking official, and the Accountability Expert and Head of the Multi-Party Office at Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

The meeting focused on solidifying the next steps in the growing partnership between Zambian institutions and their UK counterparts to institutionalize effective PLS practices.

This important conversation builds on the recent visit by the Zambian Parliamentary Caucus on Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS Caucus) to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on 17 May 2025, undertaken in close collaboration with CIDE. The visit offered first-hand insights into Scotland’s PLS mechanisms and further deepened cross-parliamentary learning.

As a technical and strategic partner, CIDE continues to play a pivotal role in fostering innovation, learning exchanges, and institutional development aimed at enhancing the Zambian Parliament’s ability to review laws after enactment. This work is crucial in ensuring laws remain effective, responsive, and aligned with the needs of citizens.

In a noteworthy move for Zambia's agriculture sector, Agriculture Minister Hon. Mtolo Phiri has praised the Centre for Innovating Development organised Zambia Parliamentary Caucus on Post Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) for their proactive role in advancing agricultural legislation.
His commendations came during an engagement session organised by CIDE held on Saturday, 9th November 2024, which focused on sharing the findings from a recent PLS survey on the Food Reserve Act of 2017. This survey highlights key areas where legislative improvements can make a lasting impact on the country’s food security. Hon. Phiri also extended his gratitude to the Centre for Innovating Development (CIDE) for their partnership with the Caucus.

This initiative, supported by the Scottish National Party’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy, has been instrumental in driving these legislative improvements. Hon. Phiri recommended that CIDE join in further engagements with the Ministry, especially those being supported by the Millennium Challenge Account, to ensure that progress continues in a collaborative manner.

A significant focus of the engagement was on enhancing Zambia's national food reserves as the Minister emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to double the designated maize reserve capacity from 500,000 metric tons to 1 million metric tons, a step critical for extending Zambia’s food security beyond the current three-month reserve period. Hon. Phiri noted the importance of stakeholders joining these efforts, especially to support the establishment of essential storage infrastructure nationwide.

Following the presentation, a productive discussion ensued, where members of the Caucus, government officials, and the CIDE team collaboratively outlined various action points. These points will serve as a roadmap for enhancing legislation, bolstering Zambia’s food reserves, and strengthening the country’s agricultural resilience.

In his closing remarks, Caucus chairperson Hon. Imanga Wamunyima expressed gratitude to Minister Phiri for his time and support. He highlighted the engagement as the beginning of a promising partnership between the Ministry and the Parliamentary Caucus on PLS, setting the stage for continuous collaboration aimed at fostering sustainable agricultural development in Zambia.

This meeting marks a positive stride toward reinforcing agricultural policies in Zambia, ensuring that the nation’s food security framework is both resilient and adaptable in the face of changing economic and environmental challenges.

CIDE Board chairperson Ms. Chilufya Chileshe emphasized the critical role of food security in Zambia and discussed the Food Reserve Agency's (FRA) strategic importance in managing national food reserves. Ms. Chileshe highlighted the establishment of the Parliamentary Caucus on PLS by the Centre, which will assess the impact of laws on citizens and help refine legislation to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She expressed gratitude to the Parliamentary Speaker, the Scottish National Party, and the Westminster Foundation for their support of this initiative.

Hon. Imanga Wamunyima, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on PLS, further underscored the value of public participation in shaping and reviewing laws. This meeting’s findings, he noted, will inform legislative discussions on the forthcoming FRA Amendment Bill. Mr. William Chilufya presented the study's findings to the various stakeholders who were in the room who ranged from farmers, various value chain players and the FRA, leading to a discussion facilitated by Mr. Kryticous Nshindano.

Key issues emerged, including the unpredictable FRA purchasing quantities due to budget limitations and concerns over stock data accuracy. Recommendations included basing FRA purchase quantities on actual needs rather than budgets and legally mandating minimum reserves to ensure food security.

Other sections reviewed included the designation of agricultural commodities, with participants noting inconsistencies in crop prioritization and the lack of updates to statutory regulations. Calls were made for FRA to focus on strategic reserve pricing, allowing the private sector to operate freely. The meeting concluded with a consensus that the FRA should facilitate but not directly engage in exports.

Closing remarks by Mr. Chilufya acknowledged the contributions from all stakeholders, highlighting the value of ongoing input to strengthen the legislative framework and Zambia's food security strategy.

On March 15-16, 2024, members of Zambia’s National Assembly gathered at Lusaka Legacy Resort to launch a parliamentary caucus dedicated to Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS). This caucus marks a significant milestone in ensuring that Zambian laws are not only well-intentioned but are also effective in achieving their intended impacts.

The meeting was formally opened by Hon. Wamunyima Imanga, who joined virtually to thank participants for their commitment to this pioneering initiative. He acknowledged the support of the Speaker of the National Assembly, as well as the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, who played key roles in organizing the event. According to Hon. Imanga, the formation of the caucus empowers lawmakers to review and improve enacted laws, ensuring that they truly benefit Zambian citizens.

The meeting included expert insights from Franklin De Vrieze, WFD’s Head of Practice, and Stephen Imrie, Principal Clerk of the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice/Equalities Committee. They provided detailed guidance on implementing PLS effectively, based on Scotland’s extensive experience. Their presentations highlighted essential aspects of PLS, such as the processes, resources, and collaborative frameworks needed for effective legislative review.

Hon. Remember Mutale from Zambia’s Patriotic Front (PF) party and other MPs engaged in robust discussions, raising questions about PLS funding, timing, and how civil society organizations (CSOs) can contribute to the process. Franklin and Stephen responded by underscoring the importance of engaging CSOs early, creating a broader base of support for PLS initiatives.

Following these discussions, the meeting proceeded to the election of the caucus’s leadership, a crucial step in structuring its future operations. Hon. Wamunyima Imanga was elected Chairperson, with Hon. Remember Mutale as Vice Chairperson. Other elected officials included Hon. Chrizoster Phiri Halwindi as Secretary and Hon. Binwell Mpundu as Vice Secretary. Hon. Dr. Alex Katakwe assumed the role of Treasurer, with Hon. Mellesiana Chibwe as Vice Treasurer. Additional committee members included Hon. Anthony Kasandwe, Hon. Jacqueline Sabao, and Hon. Emmanuel Tembo, all of whom bring a diverse array of perspectives and experiences to the caucus’s leadership.

Later, the delegates examined potential legislation for PLS, selecting the Gender Equality Act of 2015 and the Environmental Management Act of 2011 among others. They also set objectives aimed at fostering coherence in national laws and aligning them with Zambia’s developmental goals. The meeting concluded with Hon. Imanga urging members to promote PLS as a tool for legislative improvement that will benefit all Zambians. CIDE representatives reaffirmed their support for the caucus, underscoring their commitment to ongoing guidance and collaboration to ensure the caucus’s impact.

With this new caucus in place, Zambia’s parliamentary members are poised to champion a more reflective, impactful approach to legislation. The gathering concluded with a celebratory photo session and a shared commitment to building a legal system that is increasingly responsive to the needs of the Zambian people.

On July 6, 2024, a delegation from Zambia's parliamentary caucus, supported by the Centre for Innovating Development (CIDE), visited the Chongwe Main Depot of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as part of an ongoing Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) study aimed at improving food security through effective policy and operational reviews. The delegation included Hon. Binwell Mpundu, Hon. Imanga Wamunyima, Hon. Jacqueline Sabao, Hon. Anthony Kasandwe, Hon. Twaambo Mutinta, and Hon. Melesiana Phri, as well as representatives from CIDE including William Chilufya, Kryticous Nshindano, Mukuka Kalamba, and Stanley Banda.

The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Lundu Sichala, the Lusaka Region Marketing Coordinator, who, alongside other FRA officials, outlined the challenges and operations managed by the Chongwe Depot. The team explored various aspects of the agency’s mandate, including maize storage, distribution, and procurement practices.

A pressing issue discussed was the trend among small-scale farmers selling all their produce instead of just the surplus, leading to potential food insecurity at the household level. Mr. Sichala also described improvements since 2011, when poor grain management led to a significant 20% loss of maize stocks. To combat such losses, FRA has since increased staffing for better grain management and reduction of wastage.

Another concern highlighted was competition from private buyers who often pay more than FRA, with prices of K8,000 to K8,500 per tonne compared to FRA’s K6,600. Despite this, farmers continue to sell to FRA due to the agency’s consistent payment practices and established trust. The group also addressed climate-related impacts, with Mr. Sichala revealing that this year’s drought drastically reduced the agency’s maize procurement from 16,000 metric tonnes in previous years to only 600 bags (about 30 tonnes).

The caucus was guided through the depot, where they observed quality control protocols and maize storage methods. The tour underscored several operational limitations, such as inadequate storage facilities in districts like Rufunsa, which leads to increased transportation costs. Additionally, the limited capacity at Chongwe’s depot—only 1,500 metric tonnes against a production potential of 14,000 metric tonnes—places further strain on the FRA's resources.

Following the visit, the caucus proposed strategic improvements to strengthen Zambia’s food reserve system. Key recommendations included enhancing storage infrastructure, building additional depots to reduce transport costs, and granting FRA more autonomy to make independent business decisions while remaining under the Ministry of Agriculture. They also emphasized the need for establishing an annual maize consumption rate to distinguish between production and consumption, ensuring strategic reserves meet national food security needs.

The visit concluded with calls for expanded support and training for cooperatives and farmers in maize drying and storage techniques, reinforcing the caucus’s commitment to effective food security policy.

On October 27-28, 2023, at Chaminuka Lodge in Chongwe, Zambia, the Centre for Innovating Development, with supoort from the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy facilitated a workshop bringing together Zambian political parties to develop strategies for addressing environmental issues.

Led by Senior Partner William Chilufya, the event opened with a reflection on the importance of climate change in Zambia, with Zambia Council for Inter-Party Development (ZCID) chairperson Highvie Hamududu emphasizing that climate change has become an undeniable priority, affecting everything from rural agriculture to national policy. Hamududu stressed the importance of elevating environmental concerns in Zambian political discourse and highlighted his own initiatives in conservation agriculture to combat challenges such as low crop yields.

Senior Partner Krytious Nshindano outlined the workshop's objectives which were identifying capacity gaps within political parties, assessing their environmental strategies, and establishing the next steps for sustainable implementation.

Consultant, Dr. Kabwe Mubanga from the University of Zambia provided insights into Zambia's environmental policies, the national adaptation plan, and the need for a robust framework for carbon markets.

Joining virtually, Patrick Grady, SNP UK Member of Parliament, shared Scotland’s path to net-zero emissions, encouraging cross-party collaboration to translate environmental challenges into actionable policies that prioritize just transitions and social impact.

Discussions throughout the workshop revealed a consensus among participants on the need for depoliticized environmental initiatives and a commitment to inter-party collaboration. Delegates voiced concerns over Zambia’s approach to international climate negotiations, with calls for better-coordinated delegations and robust carbon market frameworks to protect national resources. The event concluded with a commitment to supporting Zambia’s environmental agenda and a recognition of the power of political parties in driving climate awareness and policy. As the program moves into its next phase, there is optimism that these efforts will lead to tangible environmental policies that reflect the needs of Zambia's diverse communities and ecosystems.