Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile. 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

The general elevation of the land gives Zambia a more pleasant climate than that experienced in most tropical countries. Three seasons can be identified:

• Cool and dry from May to August (frost can occur on cloudless nights in valleys).
• Hot and dry from September to November (night frosts may occur in places sheltered from the wind). The countryside dries up gradually with risk of grass fires, fanned by high winds.
• Warm and wet from December to April; frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms occur, followed by spells of bright sunshine. Rivers and streams fill up almost overnight with risks of flash floods.

 Only in the Zambezi and Luangwa valleys there is excessive heat, particularly in October and, in the wet season, a high humidity.

In rural areas where temporary storage facilities are in use, the rain has  proved to affect accessibility to the storage and the ability to handle goods. Few large hard standing storage facilities are available in the rural areas.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The Government of Zambia is the coordinator of disaster response in the country overall through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) headed by the Vice President’s Office.  The last update of the National Disaster Management Policy was instituted in 2014. The DMMU exercises its responsibilities through the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC) comprised of Ministers.  The National Disaster Management Technical Committee (NDMTC) is the point where the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) participates to inform the UN response as part of the coordinated National response.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Zambia Government Contact List.

Humanitarian Community

The UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) is responsible for coordinating the UN emergency response in support of the Government of Zambia. Under the guidance of the UNRC, the UN Country Team (UNCT) is responsible for the effective and efficient implementation of inter-agency disaster management activities in Zambia.  Zambian Red Cross Society (ZRCS) is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

UN agencies, ZRCS and a network of NGO implementing partners will respond to an emergency in collaboration with and through the Government of Zambia emergency response structure.  In accordance with UN Humanitarian Reform and the cluster directions of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Lead Agencies will ensure a coordinated action among partners in their respective sectors.

The refugees crossing from DRC is the most pressing potential humanitarian emergency issue in Zambia in September 2017.

Key agencies:  UNDP, FAO, IFAD, ILO, IOM, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, & WHO.

Website: http://www.zm.one.un.org/

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Zambia Humanitarian Agency Contact List.

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

The Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC), established on 1 April 1980, was the precursor of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The SADCC was transformed into the SADC on 17 August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia where the SADC Treaty was adopted, redefining the basis of cooperation among Member States from a loose association into a legally binding arrangement.  The main objectives of SADC are to achieve development, peace and security, and economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development. 

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)

The role of the Zambia Revenue Authority Governing Board is derived from the Zambia Revenue Authority Act 321, Section 11 (1), (2) and (3). According to the Act, the responsibilities of the Governing Board are:

1. To oversee the organization and administration of the Authority and management of its resources, services, property, and personnel and
2. To develop the corporate strategic plan and such other administrative policies as are necessary for the smooth running of the Authority.

The Commissioner General, who is appointed by the Republican President, is assisted by Senior Management Members (SMM).  The Commissioner General is responsible for the day to day running of the Authority’s business under the direction of the Governing Board.

The Authority has two operating divisions which are Customs Services Division and Domestic Taxes Division.  The organizational structure is as per the following diagram:

Website: http://www.zra.org.zm/

The environment in which ZRA operates, both domestically and internationally has changed and keeps changing. While economic development and macroeconomic stability is stronger, tax collections which peaked in terms of GDP several years ago have been declining. Equally, international trade has grown, but with a lower contribution to revenues due to expanding free trade agreements. As such, a review and possible overhaul of tax policies are imminent.

Food and Drugs Control Laboratory (FDCL)

The FDCL is a unit within the Ministry of Health in the directorate of Disease Surveillance Control Research. The mandate of FDCL is to protect the public against hazards and fraud in the sale and use of foods, drugs, water and to ensure that the foods, drugs and water consumed in Zambia conform to the Food and Drugs regulations of 2001 and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Quality Assurance: The Laboratory has implemented ISO 17025:2005 quality management system as its operating tool and participates in SADC (regional) Laboratory proficiency tests to ensure that results produced by the laboratory meet both national and international requirements. All the equipment used in the analysis of the samples are calibrated/serviced by qualified bodies such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards.

Website: http://www.fdcl.org.zm/ 

 Zambian Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA)

ZAMRA, formally the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority, is the Statutory National Medicines Regulatory Body for Zambia established under an Act of Parliament, the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013 of the Laws of Zambia to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, storage distribution, supply, sale and use of medicines and allied substances. The main objective of the Authority is to ensure that all medicines and allied substances being made available to the Zambian people consistently meet the set standards of quality, safety and efficacy. 

Website:  http://www.zamra.co.zm/ 

Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA)

The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) was established to administer, maintain and ensure compliance to compulsory standards. This is aimed at ensuring public health, safety and protection of the environment are maintained. Through its mandate the ZCSA facilitates growth of trade and the manufacturing industry in Zambia. The Agency started operations on 1st January 2018 and has been conducting activities aimed at fully operationalizing the Agency’s mandate, following the implementation of the National Quality Policy.

The ZCSA supports industrial growth through inspections and approval of products regulated by means of compulsory standards. Inspections are conducted so that products which are sold or imported onto the local market and those which are exported adhere to standards. These inspections are done through the Agency’s Import Quality Monitoring and Domestic Quality Monitoring departments. This, therefore, protects Zambian industry against unfair technical barriers to trade and competition; and this is done in collaboration with other Government agencies.

Website: https://www.zcsa.org.zm/

Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS)

Over the years ZABS has carried on its role of developing standards and providing conformity assessment services to industry. With the realignment of the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) in 2018, to international best practices, ZABS role is now more focused towards supporting industry to implement standards that enhance the quality of products and services for industry growth and competitiveness.

Website: https://www.zabs.org.zm/

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Zambia Government Contact List and 4.3 Zambia Laboratory and Quality Testing Companies Contact List.

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 4.1 Zambia Government Contact List

Emergency Response

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response)

The Republic of Zambia is not a signatory to any of the conventions for an emergency, to streamline customs processes. Regular processes will apply, though at the time of emergency the governing bodies will make local decisions on waivers. There is a Zambia Revenue Authority Customs Code used on Humanitarian Aid Commodities which exempt such aid from the payment of taxes. This is done with the support of a document called COMESA Certificate of Origin or SADC Certificate of Origin and Non Charge Commercial Invoice.

CE20 is a customs form used for declaration of imports and exports. It must have the following with it: 

1. Certificate of origin for export into member states that have ratified particular preferential trade agreements with Zambia. These certificates can be obtained from the Customs International and Policy Office in Lusaka and the Assistant Commissioner Customs Services Office in Ndola. Currently, Zambia issues certificates of origin for the following trade agreements:
   1. COMESA
   2. SADC
   3. EU
   4. GSP
   5. China bilateral trade agreement
   6. AGOA
2. Permits
   1. quality certificate from veterinary department (meat and livestock)
   2. phytosanitory certificate from Mt Makulu Research station (seeds, plants and fruits)
   3. permit for gemstone and scrap metal exports from Ministries of Mines
   4. and timber verification certificate for timber export.
3. Other supporting documents such as
   1. packing list,
   2. consignment note,
   3. cargo manifest,
   4. commercial invoice,
   5. airway bill,
   6. bill of lading
   7. and any other document relevant to the export.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure

NGOs and UN Agencies are allocated with a unique Tax Payer Identification number (TPIN) used to register both imports and exports and where duty is automatically waived. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is charged with responsibility to process all tax exemptions and normally the requesting agency submits such a request through a note verbale.

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Transit Regime

• Customs Entry Forms are done by the clearing agent with supporting documents like Import/ Export Permits from the originating country.
• The Above is usually submitted as pre-alerts.
• Depending on the country of destination, some humanitarian aid commodities are moved in bond and they go into the bonded warehouse in the country of destination where they are finally ex-bonded after being final cleared by the Customs Authority of the destination country.
• Usual humanitarian aid commodity in Zambia is not escorted unless there is a Government ban on such a commodity, then, there is military escort to the border of exit.