Zambia
Zambia gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, and has had several peaceful elections and transitions of power since then. Regionally, it is seen as a progressive democracy.1 The problem of small arms and light weapons proliferation in the country is mainly related to struggles for political liberation in neighbouring countries and unregulated global trade in small arms and light weapons.2 Zambia is ranked among the most peaceful countries in Africa. The country has recently improved relations with its neighbours and decreased its military expenditures.3
The country’s guiding gun control legislation includes the Firearms Act of 1970. Zambia has signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty.4 The country has been working with African Union Member States on the issue of small arms and light weapons proliferation and their illicit trade. The Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) has provided marking machines and training on their use.5
1 “Zambia Brief History,” Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, 2022, http://www.zambianembassy.it/the-country/history.
2 Zambia, National Report on the Implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) (New York: Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN, 2010), https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/poa-reports-le/2010%40216%40PoA-Zambia-2010.pdf.
3 IEP (Institute for Economics and Peace), Global Peace Index 2022: Measuring Peace in a Complex World (Sydney: IEP, 2022): https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GPI-2022-web.pdf.
4 Philip Alpers, Michael Picard and Clara Mourlevat, Zambia – Gun Facts, Figures and the Law (GunPolicy.org, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 2022), https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/zambia.
5 Zambia, National PoA Report, 2010.
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Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the Small Arms Survey began collecting data in 1979, one accidental explosion has been reported in Zambia.
Table 1. Accidental explosions in Zambia (1979–2021)
Year | Location | Owner/manager | Deaths | Injuries |
1988 | Kabwe | State (military) | 1 | 48 |
Source: “Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS) Database,” Small Arms Survey, updated December 15, 2021, https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Insufficient information on cases of diversion in Zambia.
Disposal
Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Zambia.
Needs
To further enhance safe and secure ammunition management, the following needs have been identified for Zambia:
- Development or refinement of standards and procedures on stockpile management, particularly training on stockpile management; and
- Capacity development for the destruction of surplus stockpiles.
Source: Zambia, National PoA Report on the Implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) (New York: Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN, 2020), https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/reports/ZMB-English-1001-SUBMITTED.pdf.
