[Python] Can't Import Module with Python Package with Subpackages All as Zip Archive

I am experimenting with how to package my python code as a zip archive. I understand there are other ways to share and distribute code. Right now I am specifically interested in how to get this to work as a zip archive.

Here is a MWE. This works fine when I use it as a regular package.

main.py
TestPackage/
TestPackage/__init__.py
TestPackage/PackA/PackA.py
TestPackage/PackA/__init__.py


# TestPackage/__init__.py
import TestPackage.PackA


# TestPackage/PackA/PackA.py
def hello_from_A():
print('Hello from A!')


# TestPackage/PackA/__init__.py
from .PackA import *


# main.py
from TestPackage.PackA import hello_from_A

hello_from_A() # Hello from A!


I'd like to make TestPackage into a zip archive that I can say, send to a friend. Then they could use it like so.

main.py
TestPackage.zip


# main.py
import sys
sys.path.append('/path/to/zip/dir/TestPackage.zip')

from TestPackage.PackA import hello_from_A

hello_from_A()


I created TestPackage.zip by cd'ing into TestPackage/ and doing

zip ../TestPackage.zip *


But the problem is that when I try to run main.py as I show above with the zip archive I get the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 6, in <module>
from TestPackage.PackA import hello_from_A
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'TestPackage'


Why is python not finding TestPackage? Is this because of the level in the file structure that I created the zip? Any suggestions on how I can get this working?

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