Chapter One Foundation

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Not-for-profit organisation that promotes and protects human rights, human rights defenders, constitutionalism, social justice and rule of law in Zambia through advocacy, civic education and strategic public interest litigation.

Did you knowThe Cyber Security Act establishes the Zambia Cyber Security Agency, provides for cyber-incident response, a...
20/10/2026

Did you know

The Cyber Security Act establishes the Zambia Cyber Security Agency, provides for cyber-incident response, and protects critical information infrastructure, including systems in the banking, health, energy, transport, and communications sectors.

It also establishes a legal framework for the interception of communications.

In ordinary circumstances, law enforcement officers must obtain judicial authorisation, while urgent cases are subject to subsequent judicial review requirements.

For Chapter One Foundation (COF), the Act is significant because it sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, freedom of expression, and accountability.

As an organisation committed to advancing constitutionalism, human rights, and democratic governance, COF has an interest in ensuring that cybersecurity measures are implemented in a manner that safeguards both national security and fundamental rights.





Know the Law The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) can now decide how long the provisional register of voters will be...
20/10/2026

Know the Law

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) can now decide how long the provisional register of voters will be available for public inspection.

The provision granting the ECZ’s discretion to determine the duration of public inspection of the provisional register of voters is of particular importance to Chapter One Foundation (COF) because the voter registration verification process is a fundamental safeguard for the exercise of political rights and the integrity of electoral processes. Advocacy in this area enables COF to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in electoral administration by ensuring that inspection periods are adequate, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all eligible voters. More broadly, COF’s interest in such legislative and policy changes is rooted in its mandate to advance constitutionalism, human rights, and democratic governance in Zambia.






ATI grants individuals the right to request and access information held by public bodies and privately owned entities Th...
19/10/2026

ATI grants individuals the right to request and access information held by public bodies and privately owned entities

The Access to Information (ATI) Act establishes a legal framework that promotes transparency and accountability by granting individuals the right to request and access information held by public bodies and privately owned entities that receive public funding. It requires information holders to consider and determine requests within seven days of receipt and to promptly notify applicants of their decision.

The Human Rights Commission was designated as the oversight body and has, among other things, the power to sanction bodies or individuals who fail to provide requested information, and it also protects whistleblowers.
Notably, the Act allows members of the public to make oral requests for information, unlike many jurisdictions on the continent where only written requests are recognised, which can otherwise disadvantage people facing literacy barriers.

For Chapter One Foundation (COF), advocacy for the ATI Act is particularly important because access to information is a cornerstone of constitutionalism, democratic governance, and citizen participation. Effective access to public information empowers citizens to hold duty bearers accountable, monitor the use of public resources, and meaningfully engage in decision-making processes that affect their lives.

It also strengthens the work of civil society, the media, and public interest litigants by providing access to information necessary for evidence-based advocacy and oversight.

As an organisation committed to advancing democracy, human rights, and good governance, COF recognises that the ATI Act is a vital tool for promoting transparency, combating corruption, and ensuring that public institutions remain accountable to the people they serve.






Clause 6 should be amended to reduce the notification periodClause 6 requires organisers of public gatherings to notify ...
19/10/2026

Clause 6 should be amended to reduce the notification period

Clause 6 requires organisers of public gatherings to notify authorities at least five days in advance and provide detailed information about the event. The notice must include the location, date, time, route, purpose, estimated number of participants, organiser details, safety arrangements, an undertaking to cooperate with police, and any other prescribed information.

While notification systems can be legitimate when used to help facilitate peaceful assemblies, concerns arise where they become barriers to exercising the right to assemble. The five-day notice requirement may be too restrictive because it does not accommodate spontaneous or urgent gatherings in response to unfolding events.

The clause also grants broad powers to require additional information, which could create unnecessary burdens, and the requirement to state the purpose of a gathering may risk content-based restrictions.

It is recommended that the Bill allow shorter notice periods where reasonable, exempt spontaneous, urgent, and small-scale assemblies, and limit information requirements to what is strictly necessary for managing and facilitating the assembly.

The debate over the Public Gathering Bill matters because it directly affects how citizens, civil society organisations, political actors, and communities exercise their rights to participate in public life, voice concerns, and organise collectively. Its implementation could significantly affect democratic governance, civic participation, and the protection of fundamental freedoms in Zambia.







19/10/2026

CHAPTER ONE FOUNDATION DEMANDS CLARITY ON NATIONAL INTEREST RETIREMENTS

By Gloria Chabala

Chapter One Foundation has challenged government to clarify the policy considerations guiding retirements in national interest, including the criteria used and safeguards in place to prevent arbitrary decisions.

In an interview with Phoenix News, foundation Executive Director Josiah Kalala says government should explain what constitutes national interest and how such decisions are determined, warning against equating it with political interests.

Mr. Kalala says although retirement in national interest is recognised under Zambian law, it should not be used to punish public officers perceived not to be loyal to the governing political party.

He warns that unexplained or seemingly indiscriminate retirements risk undermining public service independence and creating a culture of political allegiance instead of commitment to the constitution.

Mr. Kalala’s remarks follow Vice President Mutale Nalumango's justification last Friday that the retirements are part of government’s efforts to realign public institutions, despite earlier assurances that civil servants would not be retired on that basis.

PHOENIX NEWS

15/10/2026

CHAPTER ONE FOUNDATION URGES GOVT TO ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS FOLLOWING ZAMBIA’S ELECTION TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

By Raphael Mulenga

Chapter One Foundation has urged government to use Zambia’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council-UNHRC- to strengthen the protection of fundamental freedoms and address outstanding human rights concerns.

On October 9, 2026, the United Nations confirmed Zambia’s election to the council for the 2027–2029 term, after the country secured 177 votes, the highest among the four African states elected.

Chapter One Foundation Executive Director Josiah Kalala says the membership presents an important opportunity for Zambia to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights at the international level.

In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Kalala says Zambia should use its position to strengthen engagement with international human rights mechanisms, implement outstanding recommendations, review laws that restrict fundamental freedoms and reinforce independent institutions responsible for addressing human rights violations.

He says the need for such reforms was particularly important amid concerns raised through united nations mechanisms over freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on civic space.

Meanwhile, social and political anthropologist Dr. James Musonda has condemned Zambia’s election to the un human rights council, describing it as an insult to global justice and questioning the relevance of the organization.

Dr. Musonda claims that Zambia is experiencing what he characterizes as the worst political and democratic decline in the country’s history, alleging the decline is reflected in the systematic dismantling of political parties and alleged oppression of opposition figures.

PHOENIX NEWS

Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act must be understood alongside fundamental constitutional rightsCyber regulation cannot b...
15/10/2026

Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act must be understood alongside fundamental constitutional rights

Cyber regulation cannot be viewed in isolation. It must be understood alongside fundamental constitutional rights, particularly the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. Privacy safeguards individuals against arbitrary interference with their personal information and communications, while freedom of expression protects the ability to seek, receive, and share information and ideas. Although these rights may be limited in certain circumstances, any restriction must be lawful, necessary, and justified. Effective reporting therefore requires a balanced assessment of two key questions: What legitimate public interest is the law seeking to protect, and which rights could be affected by its application?

By strengthening media practitioners' capacity to produce accurate, credible, evidence-based reporting, Chapter One Foundation is helping build a more informed citizenry, foster accountability, and support a vibrant democratic society.








Section 9(1)(b) undermines women’s property rightsSection 9(1)(b) undermines women’s property rights by denying them ful...
15/10/2026

Section 9(1)(b) undermines women’s property rights

Section 9(1)(b) undermines women’s property rights by denying them full ownership and effectively forcing them to choose between remarriage and retaining their home. By treating surviving spouses as conditional occupants rather than rightful owners, the provision perpetuates tenure insecurity and leaves room for the very forms of property grabbing the Act was meant to eliminate.

It violates the right to protection from discrimination guaranteed under Article 23. Although the provision is framed in gender-neutral terms, it has a discriminatory effect in practice. The discrimination is indirect in nature, as the provision disproportionately affects women, who are overwhelmingly the primary victims of post-bereavement dispossession and property grabbing. This unequal impact is closely linked to women’s structural socio-economic disadvantage and their greater dependence on the matrimonial home as a source of security and stability. Many women devote substantial time to unpaid caregiving and domestic responsibilities, limiting their access to independent income and economic resources.

By terminating a surviving spouse’s life interest in the matrimonial home upon remarriage, the provision places women at a heightened risk of homelessness, economic insecurity, and loss of support for their children. It effectively forces women to choose between exercising their right to remarry and retaining access to housing and property essential to their livelihood. In doing so, the law reinforces patterns of economic dependence on husbands and perpetuates gender-based inequalities that Article 23 was intended to eliminate. Rather than promoting substantive equality, Section 9(1)(b) entrenches the vulnerabilities that many widows already face, undermining both their dignity and their equal enjoyment of property and inheritance rights.

As an organisation advocating for women’s rights, Chapter One Foundation has a direct stake in closing the gaps in this law. Advocating for reform of Section 9 goes to the heart of COF’s mission: ensuring that women’s economic and social rights to property, to inheritance, and to found a family without penalty are substantively protected.






Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa

Protection of digital rightsDigital rights are increasingly important in Zambia because internet access enables citizens...
14/10/2026

Protection of digital rights

Digital rights are increasingly important in Zambia because internet access enables citizens to work, access services, participate in public life, and engage in democratic processes. During elections, digital platforms support voter education, journalism, election observation, and public debate.

Zambia’s legal framework, including constitutional protections and the Data Protection Act, 2021, seeks to safeguard rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information while regulating the use of personal data.

For Chapter One Foundation, the protection of digital rights is closely linked to promoting constitutionalism, human rights, democratic participation, and accountable governance.

Consequently, restrictions on internet access, excessive surveillance, or the suppression of lawful online expression may have the effect of limiting citizens’ ability to participate meaningfully in democratic processes and exercise constitutionally protected freedoms of expression, association, and access to information.





ATI strengthens democratic governanceThe benefits of the Access to Information Act extend beyond the political sphere. B...
14/10/2026

ATI strengthens democratic governance

The benefits of the Access to Information Act extend beyond the political sphere. By promoting transparency and accountability, the Act helps reduce opportunities for corruption, strengthens investor confidence, and fosters a culture of openness within public institutions. These conditions create a more favourable environment for foreign investment and sustainable economic growth.

The Act also enhances public participation by enabling citizens, researchers, and civil society organisations to access information that can inform public debate and contribute to more responsive and evidence-based policymaking.

Furthermore, by aligning with internationally recognised principles of transparency and good governance, the Act reinforces Zambia’s commitment to democratic governance, accountability, and the rule of law.

For Chapter One Foundation (COF), advocacy for the ATI Act is particularly important because access to information is a cornerstone of constitutionalism, democratic governance, and citizen participation. Effective access to public information empowers citizens to hold duty bearers accountable, monitor the use of public resources, and meaningfully engage in decision-making processes that affect their lives. It also strengthens the work of civil society, the media, and public interest litigants by providing access to information necessary for evidence-based advocacy and oversight.

As an organisation committed to advancing democracy, human rights, and good governance, COF recognises that the ATI Act is a vital tool for promoting transparency, combating corruption, and ensuring that public institutions remain accountable to the people they serve.






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Plot 6941 Suez Road
Lusaka

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+260211257001

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