Business insurance Zambia — workers' comp, NHIMA

Short answerChecked 31 October 2026

A business in Zambia has four insurance duties set by law: give the Workers' Compensation Fund Control Board the particulars of the business within 14 days of starting and pay its assessments (Workers' Compensation Act 1999, sections 110 and 134); register each employee with NHIMA within 30 days and pay 1% + 1% of basic salary (National Health Insurance Act 2018); hold third-party insurance for every vehicle (Road Traffic Act 2002); and insure assets, liabilities and interests situated in Zambia with a PIA-licensed insurer (Insurance Act 2021, section 166). Fire, theft, stock and liability cover beyond that is a choice.

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Answers come from the law, the regulator and the insurers' own documents, with the source under each answer. General information, not advice.

Do I need work injury cover for my staff?Is my stock covered against theft?What is business interruption cover?

On this page · 5 sections

The legal minimum
Insuring in Zambia
Levy and brokers
FAQ
Sources

The legal minimum

Duty	Deadline or rate	Law
Give the WCFCB Commissioner the particulars of the business	Within 14 days of commencing business	Workers' Compensation Act, s.134
Pay workers' compensation assessments	As assessed by the Commissioner	Workers' Compensation Act, s.110
Report a work accident or disease	Within 3 days of knowing	Workers' Compensation Act, s.88
Register employees with NHIMA	Within 30 days of the start of the contract	NHI Act, s.13(3)
Pay NHIMA	1% + 1% of basic salary, by the 10th of the following month	SI 63 of 2019
Third-party insurance for each vehicle	At all times on the road	Road Traffic Act, s.86
Insure Zambian assets with a licensed insurer	Unless the Registrar authorises a foreign policy	Insurance Act, s.166

Details: workers' compensation · NHIMA registration · motor insurance.

Insuring in Zambia

Section 166 of the Insurance Act 2021 requires assets, liabilities and interests situated in Zambia to be insured with an insurer licensed under the Act. The Registrar may authorise in writing a policy placed abroad when it is not available in Zambia. Breaking the rule is punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 penalty units, up to two years in prison, or both. The PIA repeats the warning on its licensed entities page.

Levy and brokers

A 3% levy is charged on insurance premiums for all classes of insurance, and VAT is not payable on premiums (Insurance Premium Levy Act 2015, section 4).

A licensed broker must pass premiums to the insurer and keep clients' money in a separate account (Insurance Act, sections 21 and 22). The PIA's 2026 list names 95 insurance brokers (PIA list).

Already insured?

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Next step

1. Find the cover that fits

Frequently asked questions

Is workers' compensation compulsory in Zambia?

Yes. Every employer other than the State and exempted employers is liable to assessment by the Workers' Compensation Fund Control Board (Workers' Compensation Act 1999, section 110).

Can a Zambian company insure abroad?

Only with the Registrar's written authorisation, for a policy not available in Zambia (Insurance Act 2021, section 166).

Is VAT charged on insurance premiums in Zambia?

No. A 3% insurance premium levy is charged instead (Insurance Premium Levy Act 2015, section 4).