FBOs at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport FLKK LUN

Country overview

Zambia carries a LOW overall threat rating, with all major Western government advisories — including those of the U.S. Department of State, the UK FCDO, Transport Canada, and Australia's Smartraveller — sitting at their lowest advisory tiers as of early September 2026.

The principal day-to-day security concern for travelers remains opportunistic street crime in urban centres rather than any organised or political violence directed at foreigners.

The August 13, 2026 presidential election returned incumbent Hakainde Hichilema to a second term, though the post-election period has been marked by an intensified crackdown on opposition figures — including the detention of opposition leader Brian Mundubile on treason allegations — and concerns raised by the UN and regional bodies about democratic backsliding.

These political tensions are primarily a domestic governance concern and do not materially alter the immediate physical threat environment for most business or leisure travelers.