To evict a tenant in Zambia, a landlord must follow a formal statutory process under the Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act. The first step is to serve a written termination notice on the tenant in the prescribed form [Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act, S.5]. This notice must specify the exact date when the tenancy will end and must be given between six and twelve months before that termination date [Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act, S.5]. The tenant then has two months from receiving this notice to respond in writing regarding whether they will vacate the premises [Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act, S.2].
If the tenant disputes the termination or applies to court, the eviction process becomes subject to court proceedings. When a court application is made, the tenancy will continue for at least three months from the date the court makes its final decision, even if the termination notice would otherwise end the tenancy earlier [Landlord and Tenant (Business Premises) Act, S.23]. This protection ensures the tenant has reasonable time to vacate after the court has resolved the matter.
In practical terms, you cannot simply remove a tenant without following these steps. You must issue proper notice with adequate advance warning, allow the tenant time to respond, and if they contest the eviction, allow the court process to conclude before enforcement. The entire process typically takes considerably longer than six months.