Zambia: technology regulation at a glance

Framework: No dedicated virtual-asset law in force; Bank of Zambia Act (Cap 360), Securities Act No. 41 of 2016 (as amended by Act No. 21 of 2022), Anti-Money Laundering Act, and Financial Intelligence Centre Act applied on an ad-hoc basis; BoZ 2024-2027 Strategic Plan commits to a purpose-built crypto and stablecoin regulatory framework

Zambia has no comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation as of mid-2026. The Bank of Zambia does not recognise crypto as legal tender and prohibits licensed financial institutions from processing crypto transactions, while the Securities and Exchange Commission evaluates digital assets case-by-case under the Securities Act. The BoZ 2024-2027 Strategic Plan and active regulatory-technology sandbox testing signal a planned transition to a formal licensing regime.

Framework: National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025-2027 (Ministry of Technology and Science); Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021 (enforcement from March 2025); Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA)

Zambia has no binding AI-specific legislation. The government launched its National AI Strategy 2025-2027 in February 2025, a non-binding policy roadmap developed with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Government of Finland. In April 2025, Cabinet approved a bill to repeal and replace the existing Data Protection Act to broaden the legal framework to cover AI, machine learning, and data analytics, but that legislation has not yet been enacted.

Framework: Data Protection Act, No. 3 of 2021; supervised by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) under the Ministry of Communications

Zambia enacted a comprehensive data protection law, the Data Protection Act No. 3 of 2021, which came into force on 1 April 2021. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) became fully operational and commenced active enforcement in March 2025, requiring all data controllers and processors to register. The Act establishes GDPR-influenced obligations including lawful-basis processing, data subject rights, breach notification, data localisation for sensitive data, and tiered penalties.

Framework: National Payment Systems Act No. 1 of 2007 (with the modernising National Payment System Act, 2026 recently passed to replace it), administered by the Bank of Zambia, supplemented by BoZ directives including the Electronic Money Issuance directives (2018, revised 2023) and a Banking and Financial Services Act No. 7 of 2017 backdrop.

Digital payments and e-money in Zambia operate under a clear licensing/designation regime run by the Bank of Zambia under the National Payment Systems Act 2007, which prohibits providing payment services without a BoZ licence and requires designation of payment systems and businesses. E-money issuance, mobile money, ATM/POS and internet payments are governed by specific BoZ directives, and a national interoperability rail (the National Financial Switch) is live. A modernised, activity-based National Payment System Act, 2026 has been adopted to replace the 2007 law and broaden BoZ licensing, consumer-protection, AML/CFT and resolution powers.

Framework: Immigration and Deportation Act (Cap. 123 of the Laws of Zambia), administered by the Zambia Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security

Zambia has no dedicated digital nomad or remote-work visa as of 2026. Remote workers may enter as short-stay visitors (up to 90 days) or obtain a Temporary Employment Permit for business-related stays of up to six months; longer-term residence requires either an Investor's Permit (with a significant capital threshold) or an Employment Permit tied to a Zambian employer. No passive golden-visa or residency-by-investment programme exists.

Framework: Cyber Security Act No. 3 of 2025 and Cyber Crimes Act No. 4 of 2025, enforced by ZICTA (Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority) and the newly created Zambia Cyber Security Agency

Zambia enacted two cybersecurity laws in April 2025, the Cyber Security Act and the Cyber Crimes Act, which together create criminal offences for online conduct, establish sweeping state surveillance powers, and introduce child online protection rules. The framework does not constitute a comprehensive EU DSA/UK OSA-style platform accountability regime; it is primarily a criminal and enforcement model with broad executive authority, without systematic platform liability or algorithmic-risk duties.

Framework: Cyber Security Act, 2025 (Act No. 3 of 2025) and Cyber Crimes Act, 2025 (Act No. 4 of 2025), signed into law 8 April 2025; regulated by the Zambia Cyber Security Agency (ZCSA) and the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA)

Zambia enacted two dedicated cybersecurity statutes in April 2025, repealing and replacing the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2021. The Cyber Security Act 2025 establishes the Zambia Cyber Security Agency (ZCSA) under the Office of the President, creates the Zambia Cyber Incident Response Team (ZCIRT), and imposes licensing, data-localisation, and incident-notification obligations on critical information infrastructure (CII) controllers. The companion Cyber Crimes Act 2025 codifies criminal offences and penalties, including enhanced sanctions for attacks on CII.

Framework: Companies Act No. 10 of 2017 (PACRA); Investment, Trade and Business Development Act No. 18 of 2022 (as amended by Act No. 3 of 2024); Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) as investment promoter/licensor

Zambia permits up to 100% foreign ownership of a private company in most sectors, with incorporation handled online through the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) in approximately 7 business days. However, foreign investors face a multi-agency process (PACRA, ZDA, ZRA, and labour bodies), a USD 1 million minimum investment threshold for a wholly-foreign-owned new venture seeking ZDA registration, and a short list of citizen-reserved sectors including artisanal mining and some services.