Zambia
Zambia's Ministry of Defence had indicated in November 2021 that the government would pursue ratification of the TPNW early in 2022. Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it has prepared a ratification memorandum. Action by the Parliament is pending.
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | No |
| 2MSP delegation size (% women) | N/A |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Did not vote |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Did not vote |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 2010, Pelindaba) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1991) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2006) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 2008) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 2001) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (22 Sep 1994) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Original) |
| Additional Protocol | No (Signed 2009) |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
During the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly in September 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zambia, Stanley Kakubo, said that his country advocates ‘for a world free of nuclear threats’ – a matter that ‘needs our full attention’.1
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, Zambia said: ‘‘Nuclear weapons are the most terrifying weapons ever invented. Therefore, we cannot, as States, bury our heads in the sand and witness the modernisation of nuclear weapons while stagnation remains in the negotiations on the total elimination of the nuclear weapons.’2 It also criticised the theory of nuclear deterrence. ‘Contrary to popular justification by nuclear-weapon States that nuclear weapons serve as a deterrent, nuclear weapons do not guarantee national security,’ it argued. ‘Relying on nuclear deterrence as a security means only perpetuates a cycle of fear, where the possibility of mutually assured destruction (MAD) looms over the international community.’3
In January 2023, Zambia participated in an African regional seminar on universalisation of the TPNW in Pretoria, hosted by the South African foreign ministry.4 In July 2023, as part of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review process, Zambia 'supported' a recommendation to ratify the TPNW.5
Recommendations
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Zambia should urgently ratify the TPNW.
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Zambia should bring into force its Additional Protocol with the IAEA, and upgrade to a modified Small Quantities Protocol.