The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) under the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication was first established by Federal Act 10 of 1954 as a Directorate. The Federal Act enabled effect to be given to the International Convention on Civil Aviation and made provision for the control, regulation and orderly development of aviation within the former Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and later for the Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia and on 1^st December 1963 within the Republic of Zambia.