Office of the Vice President warns of weak coordination in displacement, compensation processes

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has raised concern over weak coordination among government institutions, resulting in inconsistent compensation practices across similar land projects in different parts of the country.

OVP Director of Resettlement, Cooper Chibomba, said the current legal framework was fragmented, leading to poor coordination and, in some cases, confusion over institutional mandates relating to displacement.

Chibomba said this in Lusaka during a national consultation aimed at preparing Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) submissions on the proposed Resettlement Management Bill 2026 on Friday.

During the briefing, the OVP presented details of the proposed Bill, which sought to address unfair displacement, inadequate compensation, and delays in development projects arising from poor displacement management.

Chibomba emphasized that the legislation aimed to establish a unified national framework with clear definitions of displacement, asset valuation methods, replacement and market value, and mandatory compensation prior to physical relocation.

“The Bill will reaffirm the Office of the Vice President, Resettlement Division as the approver of all Resettlement Action Plans, while requiring consultation with line ministries and other government agencies, professional bodies and affected households, among others,” Chibomba said.

He noted that current practices often left displaced persons worse off, especially those living on communal or customary land. The Bill proposes livelihood restoration measures and a multi-layered grievance mechanism as an alternative dispute resolution process.

Chibomba added that accountability and transparency would be strengthened, with project licences subjected to conditions that prioritized human dignity and upheld constitutional rights to property, protection of vulnerable groups, and equality.

Meanwhile, Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) Executive Director, Maggie Mwape, who chaired the CSO engagement on the Bill, underscored the need for collective action to transform the draft legislation into a meaningful tool for justice and sustainable development.

Mwape urged CSOs to speak with a unified national voice and ensure that the Resettlement Management Bill 2026 became a law that puts affected communities at the centre.

“Together, CSOs can help deliver a Resettlement Management Bill that protects rights, restores livelihoods, and builds trust in development projects across Zambia,” she said.

She stressed that the Bill presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix fragmented laws, weak institutional coordination, and inconsistent compensation systems that had left many Zambians worse off following development projects.

Mwape added that the proposed framework promised a rights-based, development-oriented approach that safeguarded vulnerable groups and ensured no one was displaced without fair and dignified treatment.

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