Zambia

Zambia

area:	752,614sq km (290,586 sq mi)
population:	10,865,700
capital (population):	Lusaka (1,218,200)
government:	Multiparty republic
ethnic groups:	Bemba 36%, Maravi (Nyanja) 18%, Tonga 15%
languages:	English (official)
religions:	Christianity (Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 26%, African Christians 8%), traditional beliefs 27%
currency:	Kwacha = 100 ngwee

Landlocked republic in s central Africa. Zambia is a landlocked country in s Africa. Most of the country consists of a highland plateau between 900m and 1500m (2950ft and 4920ft) high. The Zambezi and Luangwa river valleys are the only low-lying areas. In the ne, the Muchinga Mountains rise above the flat plateau. The highest peak, 2067m (6781ft), lies close to the Lake Tanganyika border with Tanzania. Lake Mweru lies on the border with Congo. Lake Bangweulu lies in the marshlands of Northern Province. The Zambezi forms Zambia's entire s border with Botswana and Zimbabwe. The spectacular Victoria Falls and the man-made Lake Kariba lie on its banks.

Climate and Vegetation

Although Zambia lies in the tropics, its altitude greatly moderates temperatures and humidity. The rainy season lasts from November to March. Rainfall is greatest in the n. Grassland and wooded savanna cover much of Zambia. There are also swamps. Evergreen forests exist in the drier sw.

History and Politics

In c.ad 800, Bantu-speakers migrated to the area. By the late 18th century, Zambia was part of the copper and slave trade. The Scottish explorer David Livingstone made the first European discovery of Victoria Falls in 1855. In 1890, the British South Africa Company, managed by Cecil Rhodes, made treaties with local chiefs. The area divided into nw and ne Rhodesia. Local rebellions were crushed. Intensive mining of copper and lead saw the development of the railroad in the early 1900s. In 1911, the two regions joined to form Northern Rhodesia. In 1924, Northern Rhodesia became a British Crown Colony. The discovery of more copper deposits increased European settlement and the migration of African labour. In 1946, mineworkers formed the first national mass movement. In 1953, Britain formed the federation of Rhodesia (including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi). In 1963, after a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience, the federation was dissolved.

In 1964, Northern Rhodesia gainned independence within the Commonwealth of Nations as the Republic of Zambia. Kenneth Kaunda, leader of the United Nationalist Independence Party (UNIP), became Zambia's first president. Zambia faced problems of national unity, European economic dominance, and tension with the white-minority government in Rhodesia. After his re-election in 1968, Kaunda established state majority-holdings in Zambian companies. Zambia supported the imposition of sanctions on Rhodesia. In 1972, Kaunda banned all opposition parties, and won the uncontested 1973 elections. In 1990, a multiparty constitution was adopted. The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) won a landslide victory in 1991 elections and its leader, Frederick Chiluba, became president. In 1993, Chiluba declared a state of emergency. Kaunda was exlcuded from the 1996 presidential elections, and Chiluba was resoundingly re-elected after a UNIP boycott. The government faced charges of electoral fraud. In 1997, a military coup was crushed: Kaunda was arrested and a state of emergency proclaimed. In 1998, Kaunda was freed and the state of emergency lifted. In 2001, Chiluba's attempts to change the constitution to enable him to serve a third term led to protests and a split within the MMD. In 2002, Levy Mwanawasa replaced Chiluba as president.

Economy

Zambia is the world's fifth largest producer of copper ore, which accounts for 80% of exports (2000 GDP per capita, US$880). It is also the world's second largest producer of cobalt ore. The MMD's introduction of free-market reforms led to more foreign aid and reduced the national debt. Agriculture employs 38% of the workforce. Maize is the chief food crop. Cash crops include cassava, coffee, sugar cane, and tobacco.

Political map

Physical map

Websites

http://www.embassy.org/embassies/zm.html; http://www.zambiatourism.com