Under Zambian law, a valid will must satisfy specific formal requirements set out in the Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act. The will must be in writing and signed at the foot or end by the testator (the person making the will) or by another person on their direction [Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act, S.6]. Critically, the testator's signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses who are present at the same time, and both witnesses must also sign at the foot or end of the will [Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act, S.6].
Any person who is not blind and is of sound mind may act as a witness [Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act, S.6]. There is an important exception: if the testator is blind or illiterate, another competent person who did not participate in making the will must carefully read over and explain the will's contents to them [Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act, S.6].
A will is not made invalid simply because a witness later becomes incompetent to testify about the will's execution [Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act, S.9]. Additionally, if you made your will outside Zambia, it will still be treated as properly executed if it followed the legal requirements of the country where you made it, where you were domiciled, where you habitually lived, or where you held nationality [Wills and Administration of Testate Estates Act, S.7].