Informal Sector

In Zambia - with a population of about 12.5 million people - eighty percent are officially unemployed. However, many of them work in the informal sector, run small businesses and sometimes make huge profits. The Zambian government looses colossal sums of money due to loopholes in the tax policies. Businesses in the informal sector refuse to pay tax as they accuse the government of not providing the required necessities. However, some say tax should be collected from every Zambian if the economy was to be improved.

Employment statistics

Goverment incurs huge losses through taxes
Mukwanda Danny operates a Zamcab business at the Soweto Market in Lusaka. With this business he feeds a family of five. Mukwanda is among thousands of people joining the lucrative informal sector. more

Street Vending in Lusaka
Time and again the Zambian government has tried to chase vendors from the streets but they keep coming back. The central question is: what makes the vendors come back to the streets? more

Money making wheelbarrows


In the busy capital of Zambia, Lusaka, 28 year old Sakala Lyson has begun an unusual business. And he is making a decent living with his wheelbarrow which is also known as a ZAMCAB. For the young man this was a way out of unemployment. more

Patricia Sundu

This dossier was produced by:
Patricia Sundu (Malawi)
Caroline Michelo (Zambia)
Allan Mtonga (Zambia)
Jane Kariuki (Kenya)
Joseph Basoga (Uganda)