Lusaka-based lawyer Dickson Jere has expressed concern over the proposed Sports Council of Zambia (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that the changes being proposed could weaken the role of sports federations and create confusion in the governance structure of the Sports Council.
In a detailed statement shared on social media, Jere revealed that he had reviewed all 74 Bills currently before Parliament and noted that the majority of them appear to follow a similar agenda.
“Most Bills Are Focused on Board Appointments” – Jere
Jere said about 65 out of the 74 Bills mainly focus on amending laws to change the composition and appointment of statutory boards, while only a few focus on substantive reforms.
However, he singled out the Sports Council of Zambia Amendment Bill as one of the most concerning, especially given his personal involvement and background in the sports sector.
“This bill — like the 65 others — seeks to amend the law and revise the composition and appointment of the board,” he wrote.
Minister to Gain More Power Under Proposed Changes
According to Jere, the Sports Council board has historically been appointed under a two-tier arrangement, where the Minister appointed the chairperson while sports federations elected a vice chairperson at the AGM.
He explained that the system allowed sports associations to have a direct voice through elected representatives, while the Minister only appointed a limited number of members.
Jere warned that the new Bill appears to remove this arrangement by giving the Minister increased control over board appointments.
Under the proposed law, he said the Minister would appoint the board, with some seats being reserved for other ministries such as Justice through the Attorney General’s chambers.
The Minister would also appoint four members from the sports fraternity, which Jere says significantly reduces representation considering there are about 62 national sports federations in Zambia.
“Currently, we have about 62 National Federations and yet they will only be given four slots and chosen by the Minister. No criteria is given on how those four will be picked,” he stated.
Jere Recalls Past Incident Where Board Was Never Appointed
The lawyer also recalled how under a previous administration, the Sports Council board remained inactive despite elections being held.
He explained that when Moses Mawere served as Minister, elections were conducted and members were elected, but the Minister allegedly never appointed a chairperson to complete the board, leaving it unable to function.
He said the situation only changed when Emmanuel Mulenga took over and reactivated the process.
Confusion Over Term “Council” Could Cause Problems
Jere further argued that the proposed Bill may have been drafted without fully understanding how the term “Council” is used within the Sports Council structure.
He explained that within the sports fraternity, the “Council” is synonymous with the AGM and includes a large body of federations.
He questioned why the proposed section 18 states that the “Council” shall appoint the CEO and staff, arguing that such decisions should instead be made by the board.
“Under the Sports Council description, the composition of the ‘council’ is synonymous with the AGM. So you can not have a huge group of people sitting to determine the conditions and services of members of staff,” he said.
Calls for Comprehensive Review Instead of Minor Amendments
Jere also expressed doubt that the sports ministry was fully consulted, stating that sports bodies have been pushing for a complete repeal and replacement of the Sports Council Act because it is outdated.
He noted that discussions had been ongoing for years, including the circulation of a “layman’s Bill,” and questioned why the government is now focusing only on board composition instead of a full reform.
“I wonder why we are going a single amendment to do with the composition of the board instead of the thorough review and change as agreed by the sports bodies in Zambia,” he said.
“Bill Needs More Time to Be Polished” – Jere
In conclusion, Dickson Jere urged lawmakers to take more time to refine the Bill, warning that the current draft could lead to confusion and “absurdity” in implementation.
“I think this Bill needs a little bit of time to polish up as the implementation may cause some absurdity,” he stated.
The Sports Council of Zambia Amendment Bill, 2026 is expected to be debated further in Parliament as stakeholders continue to analyze its implications for sports governance in Zambia.
