Industry Guide: Sales & Marketing in Lusaka
An overview of the employment landscape, key hiring players, and core career pathways within the commercial sector of Zambia’s capital.
1. Types of Jobs Available
- Sales Representatives & Account Executives: Frontline B2B or B2C sales roles focused on business acquisition, pipeline management, and volume targets.
- Digital Marketing Specialists: Technical roles managing social media funnels, search engine optimization (SEO), and paid media, heavily utilizing platforms like Meta and automated WhatsApp CRM solutions.
- Brand & Product Managers: Corporate positions overseeing market positioning, campaign strategies, and market share metrics for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) or corporate service lines.
- Key Account Managers (KAM): Relationship-focused professionals managing high-value enterprise accounts, bulk wholesale distributors, and major retail chains.
- Below-the-Line (BTL) Coordinators: Experiential marketing specialists responsible for organizing physical activations, regional roadshows, and out-of-home brand storming events.
2. Key Hiring Entities in Lusaka
| Hiring Entity | Focus Area | Key Offices / Location |
| Trade Kings Group | FMCG manufacturing & high-volume consumer branding | Industrial Area, Lusaka |
| Zambian Breweries (AB InBev) | Beverage manufacturing, experiential marketing, and retail distribution | Mungwi Road, Lusaka |
| Fortress Media | 360-degree creative production, video, and corporate event management | Gemini Park, Lusaka |
| Elev8 Marketing | Enterprise-grade digital marketing, corporate web design, and regional SEO | Lusaka |
| Airtel / MTN Zambia | Telecommunications services, mobile money sales, and mass-market campaigns | Addis Ababa Drive / Great East Road, Lusaka |
3. Essential Recruitment & Hiring Information
- The Recruitment Process: For sales positions, companies look heavily at historical performance, often requiring evidence of past quota attainment, territory growth, or client retention. Marketing and creative roles frequently require a portfolio review or a practical campaign pitch during the interview stage.
- Legal & Professional Mandate: Under the Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) Act No. 2 of 2022, it is a strict legal requirement for anyone practicing marketing, sales, advertising, or public relations in Zambia to be registered with the Zambia Institute of Marketing and hold a valid practicing certificate. Employers are legally obligated to verify active registration during the hiring process.
- Qualifications and Entry: Entry-level sales roles are highly accessible with a recognized diploma or certificate, but upward mobility into agency leadership or corporate brand management typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, or Business Administration, paired with active ZIM Continuous Professional Development (CPD) credits.