By Patricia Banda
Information and Media Permanent Secretary THABO KAWANA has urged drafters of regulations for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation –ZNBC- Act No. 26 of 2025 and the Independent Broadcasting Authority –IBA- Act No. 25 of 2025 to accelerate their work ahead of the dissolution of Cabinet.
Mr. KAWANA says the regulations will first be submitted to the Ministry of Justice before being presented to Cabinet, after which they will become statutory instruments.
This follows President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’s assent to the ZNBC and IBA Bills on December 23, 2025.
Mr. KAWANA was speaking in Lusaka when he officially opened a workshop for regulation drafters drawn from ZNBC, IBA, the Ministry of Information and Media, and the Ministry of Justice.
He said the regulations must be guided by key principles such as transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Information and Media Principal Planner LENHAM MUDENDA informed Mr. KAWANA that three statutory instruments are currently being drafted under the IBA, while two regulations are being prepared under ZNBC.
ZNBC Acting Director Legal INUTU HIMANJE appealed to the Permanent Secretary to allow officers more time, saying additional work remains outstanding.
At the same meeting, ZNBC Acting Director General REUBEN KAJOKOTO said timely completion of the regulations is necessary to allow the law on the television broadcasting levy to take effect.
And IBA Director General WEBSTER MALIDO said the Authority is keen to see the regulations in place, noting that they will provide clarity as the country moves towards the general election.
