Smart Zambia and BRRA Partner to Cut Bureaucracy in Licensing

By Daily News Reporter 

For years, starting and running a business in Zambia has often meant navigating a maze of paperwork, long queues and multiple offices — each demanding a different licence, fee or renewal date.

Now, a new partnership between the Smart Zambia Institute and the Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) promises to change that narrative.

The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to digitise and streamline Zambia’s business licensing system, in what officials describe as a decisive step toward reducing bureaucracy, lowering compliance costs and improving service delivery.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Smart Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama described the MoU as a formalisation of a relationship that has long existed behind the scenes.

“This partnership may appear new to some, but in reality, the collaboration between Smart Zambia and BRRA has existed in the background. Today, we are simply formalising what has already been a working relationship,” Mr Chinyama said.

At the heart of the agreement is the One Government approach — an effort to integrate services across public institutions so citizens and businesses can interact with government through seamless digital platforms rather than fragmented systems.

For entrepreneurs, the implications are significant. Instead of physically moving from one office to another to submit documents, make payments or track approvals, businesses will increasingly be able to access these services online.

“The cost of doing business is not only monetary — convenience is also a cost,” Mr Chinyama noted, highlighting how multiple licences with different renewal timelines can disrupt operations and create compliance headaches.

BRRA Executive Director Sharon Shichilongo emphasised that the initiative is grounded in the Business Regulatory Act No. 3 of 2014, as amended by Act No. 14 of 2018. The law mandates BRRA to ensure an efficient, cost-effective and accessible licensing system.

Over the years, BRRA has been reviewing regulatory frameworks to eliminate duplication, harmonise laws and simplify procedures that raise the cost of doing business.

“The private sector thrives in an environment that is predictable, accessible and efficient. This collaboration with Smart Zambia will enable us to minimise regulatory processes, reduce compliance costs and enhance inter-agency collaboration,” Ms Shichilongo said.

She acknowledged that duplication of licensing processes still exists across institutions, making integration of e-government systems both urgent and necessary.

For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which often operate with limited resources, the reforms could significantly reduce time and travel expenses associated with compliance.

Digital inspections, for instance, are expected to improve efficiency while maintaining regulatory oversight. Integrated systems could also help harmonise licence renewal dates and reduce overlapping requirements.

Zambia’s economic transformation agenda places the private sector at its centre. However, complex regulatory processes have historically been cited as barriers to growth and investment.

By merging regulatory reform with digital innovation, the partnership signals government’s intention to modernise service delivery while maintaining regulatory stability.

Beyond cost savings, increased transparency may also improve trust between businesses and regulators. With online tracking and electronic records, the risk of lost paperwork, delayed approvals or inconsistent procedures could be significantly reduced.

Ms Shichilongo assured stakeholders that the MoU is not merely symbolic.

“Beyond signing the MoU, both institutions are committed to its full implementation,” she said, describing the agreement as a timely intervention to modernise Zambia’s business environment.

As Zambia accelerates its digital transformation journey, the collaboration between Smart Zambia and BRRA may well mark a turning point — one where licensing shifts from long queues and paperwork to streamlined online platforms.