The Security Department is responsible for the overall security within the parliamentary precincts.  The Department is headed by the Chief Parliamentary Security Officer who is assisted by one (1) Deputy Chief Parliamentary Security Officer, one (1) Assistant Chief Parliamentary Security Officer, two (2) Inspectors, two (2) Assistant Inspectors and ten (10) Sergeants.  There are seventy five (75) Parliamentary Security Officers.

The department is dedicated to providing a secure and accessible parliament to the public. To ensure that maximum security is attained, the department operates within the following objectives.

1. To protect National Assembly property and preserve life of Members of Parliament and staff within the precincts;
2. to preserve peace within Parliament precincts;
3. to detect and prevent crime within Parliamentary precincts especially, espionage, sabotage and subversion;
4. to liaise with the Zambia Police Service on matters of criminal nature and the Zambia Security Intelligence Services on matters of state security;
5. to control the admission of strangers and thus avoid unlawful entry to the premises; and
6. identify and assess security threats affecting the National Assembly and to take appropriate measures against the threats.

Access to Parliament

The National Assembly is open to members of the public who wish to undertake familiarisation tours of Parliament Buildings or to attend the sittings of the House, either as individuals or in groups.  All those who wish to attend sittings of the House or to undertake tours can either write to the Clerk of the National Assembly or simply come to Parliament buildings.  On the latter, upon arrival at Parliament Buildings, visitors are required to identify themselves.  A passport, National Registration Card or a driving license is required for identification purposes.  Those to whom permission has been granted to sit in the Visitors’ Galleries are ushered to the appropriate galleries.  However, before gaining access to the galleries, visitors are issued with passes from the Sergeant-At-Arms or the Clerk’s office.

Visitors are not allowed to take into the galleries such articles as walking sticks, umbrellas, brief cases, or parcels of any type, newspapers, magazines or cellular phones.  Any such articles are deposited at the Reception Desk.  Visitors to the galleries are given copies of the order paper, which shows the order in which the business for that particular day will be taken.

While in the galleries, visitors are not allowed to take part in the proceedings of the House other than rising when the Speaker enters or leaves the Chamber.  Visitors are not allowed to rise or move from one place to another while the Speaker is on his feet or is speaking.

Visitors are advised not to take notes, applaud, laugh or converse while the House is sitting.  Visitors must withdraw from the galleries when so ordered.

Taking of photographs is permissible.  However, visitors wishing to take photographs must seek guidance from the officers accompanying them during their visit.