The licence you need depends on your business sector. After registering with PACRA and obtaining a council trading licence, if your business operates in a regulated sector, you must also get a licence from the relevant national regulator. Operating in a regulated sector without this licence is an offence, even if you have PACRA and council approvals. To find out which regulator oversees your activity, visit the national business licensing eRegistry at businesslicenses.gov.zm, which lists licences by sector.
Which regulator applies to you: If you provide financial services, banking, lending or forex, contact the Bank of Zambia (BoZ). If you work in telecoms, internet, ICT or broadcasting, apply to the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA). For medicines, pharmacies or health products, the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) is responsible; health professionals register with the Health Professions Council (HPCZ). Energy businesses (fuel or electricity supply) need a licence from the Energy Regulation Board (ERB). Projects with environmental impact, such as manufacturing or mining, require clearance from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) before operations begin. Mining, tourism and hospitality have their own licensing regimes under the Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Tourism respectively. Separately, you must register employees with NAPSA (pensions), NHIMA (health insurance) and WCFCB (workers' compensation) [Sector-specific statutes].
How to apply: Contact your sector regulator with your PACRA certificate and TPIN, meet the sector-specific requirements they set, and pay the applicable licence fee. Fees and requirements vary widely by regulator and licence type, so confirm the current amount and exact criteria directly with the regulator before applying.