What to do if someone dies in Zambia

Zambia is a Commonwealth country with no direct UK flights. The process broadly follows the East/Southern African model: police investigation, DPP authorisation, hospital post-mortem, and Ministry of Health export permit. Victoria Falls deaths on the Zambian side add a national park authority step.

Step 1: Notify the British High Commission Lusaka

Address: 5210 Independence Avenue, Lusaka. Phone: +260 211 423 200. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 1908 516666.

Step 2: Registrar General’s Office — death registration

Deaths are registered at the Registrar General’s Office under the Births and Deaths Registration Act. Hospital deaths in Lusaka process quickly through the hospital registration system. Deaths in provincial areas or at tourist sites require the certificate to route through regional offices, adding time.

Step 3: Zambia Police Service investigation (unnatural deaths)

For unnatural deaths, the Zambia Police Service Criminal Investigations Department investigates. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) must authorise the post-mortem order and the release of the body. Post-mortems are conducted at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. No embalming or transfer can proceed until DPP authorisation is received.

Step 4: Victoria Falls deaths (Zambian side)

Deaths at Victoria Falls or in the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zambian side require Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZWA) certification of what occurred before the Zambia Police can formally begin their investigation. Common activity deaths include white-water rafting accidents on the Zambezi rapids, bungee jumping injuries, and micro-light flight accidents. Confirm which side of the border applies: Zimbabwean side deaths follow Zimbabwean procedures entirely.

Step 5: Ministry of Health export permit

The Ministry of Health issues the export permit. Required documents: Registrar General’s death certificate, DPP release authorisation, UTH post-mortem report (if conducted), embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow five to eight working days for the permit.

Step 6: Routing via Johannesburg or Nairobi

Zambia has no direct UK flights. From Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), the main cargo routing options are via Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (British Airways, South African Airways) or Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya Airways). Your specialist’s local agent will advise on current schedules. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Zambia; Births and Deaths Registration Act (Zambia); British High Commission Lusaka consular guidance (2023).