The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the
[British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in
1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and
immigration. The name was changed to
Zambia
upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices
and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to
one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of
opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative
problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election
of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an
anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the prosecution of former
President Frederick CHILUBA and some officials of his administration.
Geography of
Zambia
Location:
Southern Africa, east of
Angola
Coordinates:
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Area:
total: 752,614 sq km water: 11,890 sq km land: 740,724 sq km
Area comparative:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,664 km border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338
km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to
April)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zambezi
river 329 m highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Environment current issues:
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching
seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat
populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate
water treatment presents human health risks
Geography - note:
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine
boundary with
Zimbabwe
Population of
Zambia
Population:
11,502,010 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life
expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and
growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex
than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,673,891/female
2,656,268) 15-64 years: 51.3% (male 2,925,910/female 2,969,324) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 117,877/female 158,740)
Median age:
16.5 years
Growth rate:
2.11%
Infant mortality:
86.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 40.03 years male: 39.76 years female: 40.31 years
Fertility rate:
5.39 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups:
African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions:
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous
beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda,
Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja,
Tonga
,
and about 70 other indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
English total population: 80.6% male: 86.8% female: 74.8%
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic
of Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia
based on English common law and customary law; judicial
review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA; Vice
President Lupando MWAPE; note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are
appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear
civil and criminal cases)
Economy
Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economic
growth remains somewhat below the 6%-7% needed to reduce poverty
significantly. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the
government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly
improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur
economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to
higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. The maize harvest was
again good in 2005, helping boost GDP and agricultural exports. Cooperation
continues with international bodies on programs to reduce poverty, including
a new lending arrangement with the IMF in the second quarter of 2004. A
tighter monetary policy will help cut inflation, but
Zambia
still has a serious problem with high public debt.
