Investment climate in zambia

Economy

Zambia is among highly urbanized countries with about half of its population living in urban areas. Zambia is among the fastest growing economies in Africa. According to World Bank Zambia’s economy has come under strain in 2015 and 2016 due to external headwinds and domestic pressures that intensified. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 2.8% in 2015 from 4.9% in 2014. The external headwinds include slower regional and global growth, which have reduced global copper prices. Domestic pressures include a power crisis from July 2015 to early-2016, impacting all sectors of the economy, repeat fiscal deficits that have weighed on investor confidence, and low and poorly-timed rains reduced agricultural incomes and increased food prices in 2015. The World Bank forecasts that growth will remain at 2.9% in 2016, before improving in 2017 (4%) and 2018 (4.2%) as the power situation improves alongside better output from both the agriculture and mining sectors. The World Bank projects that Zambia’s GDP growth will reach 4% in 2017, compared to 3% in 2016. The GDP per capita stands at $1,300 as of 2015. As according to Bank of Zambia annual inflation declined to 7.5% in December 2016 from 18.9% in September 2016.

Urbanisation rate

The 2010 Census of Population and Housing indicated the population of Zambia as 13 million with urban population of over 5 million people. According to World Bank the population of Zambia was projected at 16 million as of 2015 with annual growth rate of 3.1%. The population is therefore projected at 17 million people in 2017.

Corruption

In 2016 Zambia got a score of 38% and was number 87 out of the 176 countries that participated. It got the same score in 2015

Security

The security in the country is fine and a visitor can move around the country without any serious problems. It is important to note Zambians are very friendly and helpful. But as it is the case in most countries you are advised not to walk around carrying high value items.

Unemployment and skilled labour

According to the 2014 Labour Force Survey half of the population live in urban areas. The unemployment stood at 7.4 % of the economically active population. It is estimated that about one-tenth of the employed population are in the formal employment leaving close to 90 per cent in the informal employment. Much of the labour force in Zambia is not adequately skilled to support the economic development of the country.

Credit rating

Moody’s credit rating for Zambia downgraded to B3 from B2 with negative outlook from stable in April 2016 because of a combination of both external and internal shocks in the economy.

Attitude toward Foreign Direct Investment

The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) was established in 2006 under Act No. 11 of 2006 and is responsible for fostering economic growth and development in Zambia through promoting trade and investment and an efficient, effective and coordinated private sector led economic development strategy. The agency also has the challenge to develop an internationally competitive Zambian economy through innovations that promote high skills, productive investment and increased trade. It provides one stop shop for assisting investors in Zambia.

The Multi- Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) is a Government programme that was introduced in 2005 with assistance of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA). It has created a platform for attracting significant domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. MFEZs are special industrial zones for both export-oriented and domestic-oriented industries have been set up in Zambia. The MFEZ incentives are non discriminatory and applies fairly to all eligible investors be it from Zambia or outside Zambia. The declared zones include Chambishi, Lusaka East, Lusaka South, Lumwana; Ndola and Roma . The zones are managed by Zambia Development Agency

Land

All land in Zambia is vested in the President on behalf of the people of Zambia. The President may alienate land vested in him to any Zambian. The Lands Act, Chapter 184 of the Laws of Zambia, places a number of restrictions on the President’s allocation of land to foreigners. The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act however makes provision for ownership of land by investors.

Doing business in Zambia

The highlights of World Bank score of doing business in Zambia is summarised as follows;

Topic	World Bank 2017 rank	World Bank 2016 rank	Change
Overall	98	94	-4
Starting a business	105	96	-9
Dealing with Construction Permits	78	67	-11
Getting electricity	153	109	-43
Registering property	145	170	25
Getting credit	20	19	-1
Protecting Minority Investors	87	85	-2
Paying taxes	58	56	-2
Trading across the boarders	161	161
Enforcing contracts	135	133	-2
Resolving insolvency	83	89	6

The country made some improvements in registering business and resolving insolvency cases.

Restrictions on Foreign investment

The government requires all internationally licensed firms operating a domestic cellular telephone network to offer ten percent of shares on the Lusaka Stock Exchange, per commitments made by agreement prior to entering the market. Telecom investors are required to disclose certain proprietary information to the ZDA as part of the regulatory approval process. The ZDA board reviews all applicants to determine the extent to which the proposed investment will help create employment and the development of human resources; the degree to which the project is export oriented; the impact the proposed investment is likely to have on the environment and, where necessary, proposed environmental mitigation activities, in accordance with the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act; the possibility of the transfer of technology; and any other considerations the Board considers appropriate. The applicant has a right of appeal to the Minister of Finance and National Planning and the High Court of Zambia against the decision.

Remittance Policies

There are currently no restrictions or limitations placed on foreign investors in converting or transferring funds associated with an investment (including remittances of investment capital, earnings, loan repayments and lease payments) into freely usable currency and at a legal market-clearing rate.

International Arbitration

The courts in Zambia are independent, but contractual and property rights enforcement is weak and final court decisions can take a long time. Zambia has a Commercial Court, a division of the High Court, to deals with commercial disputes. The Bankruptcy Act Cap 82 of the Laws of Zambia provides for the administration of bankruptcy of the estates of debtors and makes provision for punishment of offenses committed by debtors. The Arbitration Act Chapter 40 was passed in 2000. The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArd) was established in Zambia in 2011 and currently has over 60 members.

Intellectual Property Rights

The legal framework for protection of intellectual property rights is in place.

Key natural resources

The key natural resources include copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower, petroleum, tin, nickel, bauxite, phosphate, natural gas and fishing among others.

National Parks

The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is mandated under the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 12 of 1998 to manage and conserve Zambia’s wildlife, which covers 31 percent of the country’s land mass. ZAWA endeavors to integrate the wildlife policy with economic, environmental and social policies to ensure effective contribution to sustainable national development. Zambia has the following National Parks;