Parliamentary Submission - Agriculture Lands (Amendment) Bill 2026, Coffee (Amendment) Bill 2026, Tobacco (Amendment) Bill 2026

Zambia over the years has made strides to ensure in the devolution of authority through the decentralisation policy to ensure access and inclusive participation of citizens. Key instruments at regional such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which mandates countries to ensure inclusion of women, youth, persons with disability and other key players in the agriculture all promote decentralisation. 
The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development promotes member states to implement gender-responsive budgeting, climate action, and capacity building to promote women's empowerment and increase their role in decision-making within the sector. At national level the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (CATSP) highlights the need to improve production by ensuring local players in the value chain, especially small-holder farmers. 
The review and proposed amendments to the agriculture lands Act, Tobacco Act and the Coffee Act on the composition of Board Members, should not neglect the key fundamental consideration of players like youth, Women, persons with disability and media if these board committee are to be fit for purpose, relevant and reflect the realities of Zambians but more so, the more than 70% smallholder farmers to contribute to agriculture.