Diagnosis: This species differs from Zaireichthys conspicuus, Z. lacustris and Z. maravensis in the narrow premaxillary tooth patch and the long lateral line, extending beyond base of anal fin; from Z. kunenensis in the narrower premaxillary tooth patch and the greater number of branched caudal rays, 14-16 vs. 11-14; from Z. kavangoensis in the longer lateral line, extending beyond anal fin and usually past adipose vs. above anterior to middle of anal fin; from Z. kafuensis and Z. pallidus in the longer lateral line and the greater number of caudal rays, 14-16 vs. 9-13, and pectoral-fin rays, 7-8 vs. 5-7 (Ref. 86935).

Description: Lateral line long, reaching beyond end of base of anal fin and usually past end of adipose; snout bluntly rounded, not protruding much beyond mouth; eye moderate; mouth less than half head width; barbels moderate or long, the maxillary reaching to the bases of the branched pectoral-fin rays (Ref. 86935). Dorsal fin II,6-7, usually 6; caudal fin moderately emarginate and with lower lobe usually appreciably longer than the upper, with 14-16 branched rays, with 6-7 in the upper and 8-9 in the lower lobe; anal fin with 10-12 rays, the first 4-6 simple; pectoral fins with 7-8, usually 7 branched rays, the spine bearing 5-9 barbs (Ref. 86935). Premaxillary tooth patch narrow and subrectangular; branchiostegal rays 6-8, usually 7; vertebrae 35-38, usually 37, plus the ural complex, the first haemal spine on the 14th-15th, usually 15th; ribs 6-8, usually 7, pairs, parapophyses often forked basally; humeral process pointed, usually ending about midway between supraoccipital process and first dorsal spine (Ref. 86935).

Colouration: Ground colour pale brownish; head brownish; a series of darker bars across the dorsal surface of the body, often with paler centres on the lateral parts; about eight dark patches, often elongated, mid-laterally along the flanks, the first below the dorsal fin and the last at the end of the caudal peduncle; a third series of small faint spots ventro-laterally from above the pelvic to the caudal peduncle (Ref. 86935).