Zambia assents to Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act

Zambia has assented to the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act which seeks to establish the National Counter Terrorism Centre in the country.

Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila has disclosed that the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 2015 which aims to facilitate for the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre was assented to on 14th August, 2015.

He says the Zambian government is now in the process of establishing the Centre and that the next step is now to establish the Centre.

Mr. Mwila states that provided for the establishment of the center in the 2015 national budget besides and having a budget line in the 2016 budget to complete the implementation process.

A group photo of Ministers from the 15-member Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group who were delegates to the 15th Council of Ministers meeting held in Boksburg, South Africa on 28th August, 2015.

He made the disclosure yesterday at the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Council of Ministers Meeting in Boksburg, South Africa as part of Zambia’s status update following observations made by the Council of Ministers in March 2015 that Zambia had not made adequate progress since the last meeting in addressing the key deficiencies identified.

Mr. Mwila was accompanied by Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga and Attorney General Likando Kalaluka.
He also disclosed that the Zambian government expects to have amendments to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act of 2010 assented to by December this year as the law is meant to adequately provide for the legal autonomy and operational independence of the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Mr. Mwila has further disclosed that with regard to the United Nations Convention on Terrorism Financing, Zambia has ratified four out of nine Conventions related to Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) matters.

He says the development of programmes to facilitate AML/CFT supervision and monitoring compliance was addressed through the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill and that the Bill would be enacted into law before March 2016.

Mr. Mwila states that his government also expects to issue regulations to implement United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1267 and 1373, and the respective successor resolutions by March 2016.

This is contained in a statement released to Qfm News by press secretary at the Zambian mission in South Africa, Nicky Shabolyo.