News

General information – Zambia

Business/social hints


Appointments: should be made in advance. Punctuality is appreciated, but relatively flexible outside urban areas.


Attire for business meetings: men should wear a lightweight suit and tie, women a two-piece suit or equivalent and hosiery.


Etiquette: it is customary to shake hands on meeting and leaving.


Business cards are exchanged after introduction.


Language: business is conducted in English. In business an informal attitude prevails.


Invitations: a service charge is added to bills.


ZAMBIA


Local time: GMT +2.


Capital:Lusaka.


Language:English and many tribal dialects.


Electricity: 220/240V/AC 50Hz.


Int. direct dialling code: 260.


Driving:International Driving Permit required.


Currency: Kwacha (ZMK: 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000,


10000.


Coins: ZMK: 1. Ngwee: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50.


Business hours


Banks: 8.15am -2.30pm Monday-Friday.


Offices: 8am-1pm and 2pm-5pm Monday-Friday.


Shops: 8am-5pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm Saturday.


Emergency Services


Police, Fire, Ambulance: 999.


Clothing


Lightweights or tropical with a warm wrap for cooler evenings and rainwear for the rainy season.


Health


Compulsory vaccinations: none.


Weather


In lowland areas the climate is tropical with no real cool season but with a hotter period between October to February, which is also the rainy season when it can become particularly oppressive. In the upland areas temperatures are lower and are typical of a warm-temperature climate. In the higher regions frost is not uncommon especially during the dry period between April to August. Rainfall occurs mainly during October to march and is at its height between December to February.


Lusaka Temp C Humidity % Rain


Max Min am pm (mm)


January 27 18 84 71 231


February 26 17 85 70 191


March 26 17 83 56 142


April 26 15 71 47 18


May 25 12 59 37 3


June 23 10 56 32 0


July 25 8 54 28 0


August 25 12 46 26 0


September 29 15 41 19 0


October 31 18 39 23 10


November 29 18 57 46 91


December 27 17 76 61 150


Lusaka International LUN


Postal address: National Airports Corporation Limited, PO Box 30175, Lusaka 10101.


Telephone: +260 1 271044/271313 282100/282055/283878.


Telex: 40486.


Transportation to city centre: taxi: fare $25, journey time 30mins.


Airport departure tax: domestic: ZMK 5000. International: ZMK 25000 (nationals and alien residents), $20 (others). Note: infants are exempt.


Flight information: tel: 271044/271313.


Business facilities: 6am-22pm on the first floor.


Passport and visas


Required.


Customs


Import allowances: 400 cigarettes, 1.5 litres of spirits, 2.5 litres of wine, 2.5 litres of beer. Other goods to the value of $150.

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.