Zambia

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Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in southern Africa. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania on the north-east, Malawi on the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola on the west. Formerly Northern Rhodesia, the country is named after the Zambezi river.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Pre-European era 1.2 European colonial era 1.3 Independence 1.4 Post-Independence 2 Politics 3 Administrative divisions 4 Languages 5 Education 5.1 Lower education 5.2 Higher education 6 Geography 6.1 Zambezi River basin 6.2 Congo River basin 7 Economy 8 Demographics and ethnicity 9 Religion 9.1 Christianity 9.2 Other religions 10 Art and Culture 11 See also 12 References and notes 13 External links 14 Geographic locale

[edit] History

Main article: History of Zambia

[edit] Pre-European era

The indigenous Khoisan hunter-gatherer occupants of Zambia began to be displaced or absorbed by more technologically-advanced migrating tribes around two thousand years ago. The major waves of Bantu-speaking immigrants – the Bantu expansion – began in the 12th century.

Among them, the Tonga people (also called Batonga) were first to settle in Zambia and are believed to have come from the far east near the "big sea." The Nkoya people had also come much earlier with some suggesting that they came first into what is today called Zambia from the Luba-Lunda kingdoms in the north.

Other groups followed with the greatest influx coming between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. These later migrants came primarily from the Luba and Lunda tribes of southern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola but were joined in the 19th century by Ngoni peoples from the south. By the later part of the 19th century, the various peoples of Zambia were largely established in the areas they currently occupy.

[edit] European colonial era

Except for the occasional Portuguese explorer, the area lay untouched by Europeans for centuries. After the mid-19th century, it was penetrated by western explorers, missionaries, and traders. In 1855, missionary and explorer David Livingstone, became the first European to see the magnificent waterfalls on the Zambezi River. He named them Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria. The falls are known in Zambia as Mosi-O-Tunya (in the Lozi or Kololo dialect), "the smoke that thunders." The Zambian town, Livingstone, near the falls is named after him.

In 1888, Cecil Rhodes, spearheading British commercial and political interests in Central Africa, obtained a mineral rights concession from local chiefs. In the west of the country, which came to be known as North Western Rhodesia, the British South African Company, Cecil Rhodes’ company, obtained mineral rights for the area from The Litunga, the king of the Lozi [4]. In the east, King Mpezeni of the Ngoni resisted but he was defeated in battle[5] and that part of the country came to be known as North-Eastern Rhodesia. The two were administered as separate units until 1911 when they were joined to form Northern Rhodesia. In 1923, the Company ceded control of Northern Rhodesia to the British Government after the government decided not to renew the Company's charter.

That same year, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was also proclaimed to be within the British sphere of influence and it was annexed formally and granted self-government. After negotiations, the administration of Northern Rhodesia was transferred to the British Colonial Office as a protectorate in 1924.

In 1953, both Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively) were joined with Nyasaland (now Malawi) to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Federation was established despite overwhelming opposition from Africans, who demonstrated against it in 1960-61 and campaigned for its disbandment.[6] Northern Rhodesia was the centre of much of the turmoil and crisis that characterized the federation in its last years. The campaign was led initially by Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula's African National Congress (ANC) and later by Kenneth Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP).

In January 1964 Kenneth Kaunda was elected the first (and last) Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia. The Colonial Governor, Sir Evelyn Hone, was very close to Kaunda and urged him to go for the post. Soon after that there was an uprising in the north of the country known as the Lumpa Uprising led by Alice Lenshina. She was a self proclaimed prophetess who believed that she had had a visitation from an angel telling her to liberate the people. Many followed her and fought off authorities to their death — men, women and children alike. Her own brother pleaded in the newspapers for her to give herself up. This was Kenneth Kaunda's first internal conflict as leader of the nation.

[edit] Independence

A two-stage election held in October and December 1962 resulted in an African majority in the legislative council and an uneasy coalition between the two African nationalist parties. The council passed resolutions calling for Northern Rhodesia's secession from the federation and demanding full internal self-government under a new constitution and a new National Assembly based on a broader, more democratic franchise. Led by Kenneth Kaunda, on 31 December 1963, the federation was dissolved, and Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia on 24 October 1964. At that time, Kaunda became the country's first president.

At independence, despite its considerable mineral wealth, Zambia faced major challenges. Domestically, there were few trained and educated Zambians capable of running the government, and the economy was largely dependent on foreign expertise. Abroad, three of its neighbours – Southern Rhodesia and the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola – remained under white-dominated rule. Southern Rhodesia's white-ruled government unilaterally declared independence in November, 1965. In addition, Zambia shared a border with South African-controlled South-West Africa (now Namibia).

[edit] Post-Independence

Zambia's sympathies lay with forces opposing colonial or white-dominated rule, particularly in Southern Rhodesia. During the next decade, it actively supported movements such as the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU); the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC); and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO).

Conflicts with Rhodesia (so renamed from Southern Rhodesia) resulted in the closing of Zambia's borders with that country and severe problems with international transport and power supply. However, the Kariba hydroelectric station on the Zambezi River provided sufficient capacity to satisfy the country's requirements for electricity (despite the fact that the hydro control centre was on the Rhodesian side of the border). A railway to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, built with Chinese assistance, reduced Zambian dependence on railway lines south to South Africa and west through an increasingly troubled Angola. Until the completion of the railway, however, Zambia's major artery for imports and the critical export of copper was along the TanZam Road, running from Zambia to the port cities in Tanzania. Also a pipeline for oil was built from Dar-es-Salaam to Ndola in Zambia.

By the late 1970s, Mozambique and Angola had attained independence from Portugal. Zimbabwe achieved independence in accordance with the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, however Zambia's problems were not solved. Civil war in the former Portuguese colonies generated an influx of refugees and caused continuing transportation problems. The Benguela railway, which extended west through Angola, was essentially closed to traffic from Zambia by the late 1970s. Zambia's strong support for the ANC, which had its external headquarters in Lusaka, created security problems as South Africa raided ANC targets in Zambia.

In the mid-1970s, the price of copper, Zambia's principal export, suffered a severe decline worldwide. In Zambia's situation, the cost of transporting the copper great distances to market was an additional strain. Zambia turned to foreign and international lenders for relief, but, as copper prices remained depressed, it became increasingly difficult to service its growing debt. By the mid-1990s, despite limited debt relief, Zambia's per capita foreign debt remained among the highest in the world.

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Zambia

Zambia's politics takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Zambia is both head of state and head of government in a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) became a republic immediately upon attaining independence in October 1964.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Main articles: Provinces of Zambia and Districts of Zambia

Zambia is divided into 9 provinces, each administered by an appointed deputy minister (essentially performing the duties of a governor). Each province is subdivided into four to twelve districts to make a total of 72 districts. There have been calls to establish a 10th province to be called 'Kafue Province'. The provinces are:

Central Copperbelt Eastern Luapula Lusaka

Northern North-Western Southern Western

[edit] Languages

The official language is English. Commonly-spoken indigenous languages include Chibemba, Chinyanja, Lunda, Chitonga, Kaonde, Silozi and Luvale. The Ethnologue report on Zambia lists 42 languages and many more dialects spoken in Zambia. A Zambian languages website lists 78 languages. Some of the difference may be attributed to dialects in the Ethnologue list being counted as languages in the second list.

[edit] Education

Main articles: Education in Zambia and List of schools in Zambia

[edit] Lower education

Schooling usually falls into three levels: Primary (years 1 to 7), Junior Secondary (years 8 to 9) and Upper Secondary (years 10 to 12). So-called "basic schools" teach years 1 to 9, as year 9 is considered to be a decent level of schooling for the majority of children; however, schooling is only free up to year 7 and most children drop out then.

Both government and private schools exist in Zambia. The private school system began largely as a result of Christian mission efforts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Amongst famous private schools are the Roman Catholic run St Mary's Seminary located in the Msupadzi area, south of Chipata, Eastern Province and Simba International School close to Ndola, Copperbelt Province. Private schools operate under either the British or American way of schooling, but also offer curricula approved by the Examinations Council of Zambia.

[edit] Higher education

Educational opportunities beyond secondary school are limited in Zambia. After secondary school, most students study at the various colleges, around the country.

There are two main universities: University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU). They normally select or invite the brightest students to pursue courses there and competition to get in is very tight. The introduction of fees in the late 1990s has made the pursuein of an university level eductaion quite hard for some, although bursaries do exist from the state. In the late 1970s Copperbelt University (CBU) opened on the copperbelt, taking over most of what previously was the Zambia Institute of Technology (ZIT) site in Kitwe.

Other places of learning include NIPA (Public Administrations College), NORTEC (Northern Technical College), NRDC (National Resources Development College),Evelyn Hone College, ZIBSIP, ZCAS, ZAMIM etc.

Several teacher training colleges offer two-year programmes beyond high school, missionary hospitals dotted around the country offer high quality training of an internationally acceptable standard to nurses and several Christian schools offer seminary-level training.

• University of Zambia
• Copperbelt University

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Zambia

See also: List of cities in Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa, with a tropical climate and consists mostly of high plateau with some hills and mountains. At 752,614 sq. km (290,566 sq. mi.) it is the 39th-largest country in the world (after Chile) and slightly larger than the US state of Texas.

Zambia is drained by two major river basins: the Zambezi River basin, in the south; and the Congo River basin, in the north. The part of Zambia drained by the Zambezi basin is about three-quarters of the country's total area. The part drained by the Congo basin is about a quarter of the area.

[edit] Zambezi River basin

In the Zambezi River basin, there are four major rivers that either run through Zambia or form the country's borders: the Kafue, the Luangwa, the Kwando and the Zambezi. The last three form part of Zambia's southern borders. The Kwando River forms Zambia's south-western border with Angola, then it runs easterly along the northern boundary of Namibia's Caprivi Strip before spreading into the Linyanti Marshes, which finally drain eastwardly into the Zambezi. From its confluence with the Kwando, the Zambezi flows east, forming the whole of Zambia's border with Zimbabwe.

The other two rivers, the Kafue and the Luangwa, lie entirely within Zambia and are major tributaries of the Zambezi. Their confluences with the Zambezi are on Zambia's Zimbabwean border at Chirundu and Luangwa town respectively. Before its confluence, the Luangwa River forms part of Zambia's border with Mozambique. From Luangwa town, the Zambezi leaves Zambia and flows into Mozambique, and eventually into the Indian Ocean's Mozambique Channel.

The Zambezi falls 100 m (360 feet) over the 1.6 km (1mile) wide Victoria Falls, located in the south-western corner of the country, subsequently filling Lake Kariba.

The Zambezi Valley, running along the southern border, is both deep and wide. Moving northwards the terrain shifts into a high plateau of 900 to 1,200 m (3000 to 4000 ft) to over 1,800 m (6000 ft) in the northern area of the Copperbelt. In the east, the Luangwa Valley curves southwards with hills on either side until it enters the Zambezi. In the west, large plains are a key geographic feature, flooding the western plains during the annual rainy season (typically October to April).

[edit] Congo River basin

Zambia hosts two major rivers from the Congo River basin: the Chambeshi and the Luapula. The latter forms part of Zambia's border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Chambeshi lies entirely within Zambia and is the furthest headstream of the Congo River. It flows into the Bangweulu Swamps, which provide the waters that form the Luapula River. The Luapula flows south then west before it turns north until it enters Lake Mweru. The lake's other major tributary is the Kalungwishi River, which flows into it from the east. The Luvua River drains Lake Mweru, flowing out of the northern end.

Lake Tanganyika is the other major hydrographic feature that belongs to the Congo River basin. Its south-eastern end receives water from the Kalambo River, which forms part of Zambia's border with Tanzania. This river has Africa's second highest uninterrupted waterfall, the Kalambo Falls. (The continent's highest waterfalls is the Tugela Falls in South Africa.)

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Zambia

About 73% percent of Zambians live below the recoginised national poverty line [7], with rural poverty rates standing at about 83%[8] and urban rates of 56% [9]. Per capita annual incomes are currently at about one-half their levels at independence and, at $395, place the country among the world's poorest nations. Social indicators continue to decline, particularly in measurements of life expectancy at birth (about 37 years) and maternal mortality (729 per 100,000 pregnancies). The country's rate of economic growth cannot support rapid population growth or the strain which HIV/AIDS related issues (i.e. rising medical costs, decline in worker productivity) place on government resources. Zambia is also one of sub-Saharan Africa's most highly urbanised countries. Almost one-half of the country's eleven million people are concentrated in a few urban zones strung along the major transportation corridors, while rural areas are sparsely populated. Unemployment and underemployment are serious problems.

HIV/AIDS is the nation's greatest problem, with 17% prevalence among the adult population. HIV/AIDS will continue to impact Zambian economic, political, cultural, and social development for the foreseeable future.

Once a middle-income country, Zambia began to slide into poverty in the 1970s when copper prices declined on world markets. The socialist government made up for falling revenue with several abortive attempts at International Monetary Fund structural adjustment programmes (SAPs), which ended after popular outcries from the people. After democratic multi-party elections, the Chiluba government (1991-2001) came to power in November 1991 committed to an economic reform programme. The government privatised most of the parastatals (state-owned corporations), maintained positive real interest rates, eliminated exchange controls, and endorsed free market principles. Corruption grew dramatically under the Chiluba government. It remains to be seen whether the Mwanawasa government will be aggressive in continuing economic reform. Zambia is still dealing with economic reform issues such as the size of the public sector and improving Zambia's social sector delivery systems. NGOs and other groups have contended that the SAPs, in Zambia and other countries, have had very detrimental effects on the poor. [10] Zambia's total foreign debt exceeded $6 billion when the country qualified for Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) debt relief in 2000, contingent upon meeting certain performance criteria. Initially, Zambia hoped to reach the HIPC completion point, and benefit from substantial debt forgiveness, in late 2003. In January 2003, the Zambian government informed the IMF and World Bank that it wished to renegotiate some of the agreed performance criteria calling for privatisation of the Zambia National Commercial Bank and the national telephone and electricity utilities. Although agreements were reached on these issues, subsequent overspending on civil service wages delayed Zambia's final HIPC debt forgiveness from late 2003 to early 2005, at the earliest. In an effort to reach HIPC completion in 2004, the government drafted an austerity budget for 2004, freezing civil service salaries and increasing a number of taxes. The labour movement and other components of civil society have objected to the sacrifices called for in the budget, and, in some cases, the role of the international financial institutions in demanding austerity.

The Zambian economy has historically been based on the copper mining industry. Output of copper had fallen, however, to a low of 228,000 metric tons in 1998, after a 30 year decline in output due to lack of investment, low copper prices, and uncertainty over privatisation. In 2002, following privatisation of the industry, copper production rebounded to 337,000 metric tons. Improvements in the world copper market have magnified the effect of this volume increase on revenues and foreign exchange earnings. Recently firms like Vedanta Resources, a London-based metals giant acquired Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and have completely transformed the company allowing it to develop to its full potential and maximise the benefits for the employees. They are also investing a lot in the Zambian economy by undertaking the largest single investment into the country earlier in 2006.

The Zambian government is pursuing an economic diversification programme to reduce the economy's reliance on the copper industry. This initiative seeks to exploit other components of Zambia's rich resource base by promoting agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining, and hydro-power. In 2003, exports of nonmetals increased by 25% and accounted for 38% of all export earnings, previously 35%. The Zambian government has recently been granting licenses to international resource companies to prospect for minerals such as nickel and uranium.^[1]

[edit] Demographics and ethnicity

Main article: Demographics of Zambia

Zambia's population comprises about 72, mostly Bantu-speaking ethnic groups, but almost 90% of Zambians belong to the nine main ethnolinguistic groups: the Bemba, Nyanja-Chewa, Tonga, Tumbuka, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, Nkoya and Lozi. In the rural areas, each ethnic group is concentrated in a particular geographic region of the country and many groups are very small and not as well known. However, in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, all the ethnic groups can be found in good proportions.

The country is 44% urban. Most rural Zambians are subsistence farmers. The predominant religion is Christianity which is also the official national religion. Expatriates, mostly British (about 15,000) or South African, live mainly in Lusaka and in the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, where they are employed in mines and related activities. Zambia also has a small but very economically important Asian population, most of whom are Indians. In recent years over three hundred dispossessed white farmers left Zimbabwe at the invitation of the Zambian government and have taken up farming in the southern region.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is ravaging Zambia. Nearly one million Zambians are HIV positive or have AIDS. An estimated 100,000 died of the epidemic in 2004. Over a half-million Zambian children have been orphaned. Life expectancy at birth is just under 40 years.

[edit] Religion

See also: History of Church activities in Zambia

[edit] Christianity

Zambia's constitution identifies the country as a Christian nation, but a variety of religious traditions exist. Traditional religious thought blends easily with Christian beliefs in many of the country's syncretic churches. Islam also has a visible presence especially in urban settings.

Within the Christian community, a variety of denominations can be found: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, New Apostolic Church, Lutheran, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness and a variety of Evangelical denominations. These grew, adjusted and prospered from the original missionary settlements (Portuguese and Catholicism in the east from Mozambique) and Anglican (English and Scottish influences) from the south. Except for some technical positions (e.g. physicians), western missionary roles have been assumed by native believers. After Frederick Chiluba (a Pentecostal Christian) became President in 1991, Pentecostal congregations sprouted around the country.^[2] Further information on the growth of Christianity can be found at the History of Church activities in Zambia

Zambian-born Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo was a high-ranking Bishop at the Vatican until he left to marry Maria Sung, a 43-year-old Korean acupuncturist, at a ceremony officiated by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in New York (May, 2001). He was ex-communicated by the Roman Catholic Church in September, 2006 for conducting a consecration of 4 married men as bishops.

[edit] Other religions

Islam in Zambia constitutes about 5% of the population.^[3]

Zambia also has a very small Jewish community, mostly of Ashkenazi members of the White community. However, there have been notable members such as Simon Zukas, retired Minister, MP and a member of Forum for Democracy and Development and earlier on the MMD and United National Independence Party. Additionally, the economist Stanley Fischer, currently the governor of the Bank of Israel and formerly head of the IMF also was born and partially raised in Zambia's Jewish community.

According to adherents.com, ^[4] the Baha'i population of Zambia is over 160,000, or 1.5% of the population. The William Mmutle Masetlha Foundation ^[5] run by the Baha'i community is particularly active in areas such as literacy and primary health care.

[edit] Art and Culture

Zambia's present-day culture exhibits a blend of historical and cultural features from the past as well as the present. Traditional African practices and understandings continue to influence many aspects of Zambian culture, mainly in how people act towards elders, marriage guidance and ceremonies. For example, at a funeral, women show support to the grieving family by wailing uncontrollably upon arrival at the funeral gathering — usually at the deceased's house. However, after the ceremony, they can be found joking and greeting long forgotten family members.

The impact of the colonial era can also be seen in the lives of the people. Having been self-sufficient for centuries, surviving on the land, the Europeans introduced the concept of living independently of tribal organisations. New laws, ways of living and jobs had to be created to cope with this. Some families adapted well to this, but others continue to languish in semi rural-urban existence. Families that survive by subsistence farming, are often drawn to the city by its promises and hope. However, they end up working in low paying jobs and living in city slums.

Globalisation and urbanisation have made Zambian of both the above urbanised rural-born as well as the one that have been born in the cities. The latter is thoroughly modern — exposed to the internet, mobile phones, CNN, MTV, and influenced by American urban culture, music, and dress.

Some of the well known artists from Zambia are: Mulenga Chafilwa, Stephan Kapata, Sylvia Mwando, Geoffrey Seti, Linda Chandia, Enock Ilungu, Victor Makashi and William Mikko. The sculpture industry in the country is predominantly dominated by Flinto Chandia and Friday Tembo.

Traditional ceremonies and rituals 

Kathanga (Kafue Province), Ncwala (Eastern Province), Umutomboko (Luapula Province), Kuomboka (Western Province), Cing'ande (Southern Province)

Traditional arts 

Tonga baskets, stools, fabrics

Food 

Nshima, Cibwantu, Inswa (termites), Ifishimu (caterpillars), Dobe (fresh maize), vimbombo va nkhuku ( a delicacy made from chicken's feet), chiwaya cho kazinga (roasted maize), pumpkin leaves cooked in ground peanuts, casava, okra, rape and munkoyo (a fermented root and corn powder drink).

[edit] See also

List of Zambia-related topics List of Zambians List of national parks of Zambia History of Zambia Monuments and Historic Sites of Zambia Communications in Zambia The Historical Background to Church Activities in Zambia

Transport in Zambia Foreign relations of Zambia Military of Zambia Zambia Scouts Association Zambia Medical Mission Project Zambia

[edit] References and notes

[edit] External links

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	News stories from Wikinews
	Learning resources from Wikiversity

Government

• Zambia Mining The Ministry of Mines Guide
• Zambia Online The national homepage of Zambia
• Republic of Zambia State House official government site
• The Zambian Parliament official site
• Zambia National Tourist Board official Travel Guide site
• Bank Of Zambia BOZ
• Export Board Of Zambia
• Communications Authority of Zambia telco supervision and regulation
• Zambia Revenue Authority tax collection
• Lusaka City Council LCC
• LCC Waste Management Unit
• Kafue Gorge Regional Training Center hydropower courses

News

• Visit Zambia news portal, tourism, business information, culture, history, e-commerce portal.
• African News Dimension...breaking news second by second - Zambia news headline links
• Breeze 99.6FM radio station in Chipata
• The Lowdown monthly Lusaka magazine
• The Post private newspaper
• The Times of Zambia newspaper
• The Zambian newspaper
• Zambia News Agency government site
• Zamnet ISP and news portal
• Memeza Community powered Zambian news

Overviews

• BBC News Country Profile - Zambia
• CIA World Factbook - Zambia
• Open Directory Project - Zambia directory category
• US State Department - Zambia includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
• Business Anti-Corruption Portal Zambia Country Profile
• The Mineral industry of Zambia

Technology

• Open Source Zambia

Tourism

• Visit Zambia Campaign Visit Zambia...the Real Africa.
• Zambia travel guide from Wikitravel
• Ndikufuna Pictures and photographs of Zambia
• Zambia the African Safari Promotes Zambia's tourism and safaris

Other

• Zambiz - Zambia's Business Website Directory
• Zambia: Articles
• Current time in Zambia
• Zamnet: News site and ISP
• Zambia Overseas Christian Fellowship
• Zambia Leeds Community
• The Official Hindu Jyot Hindu Association of Zambia Website
• Voter turnout, Gender quotas, Electoral system design and Political party financing in Zambia
• Zambian doctors, medical education, hospitals and more
• Bwanji.com Zambian social and community site
• Development Aid from people to People Zambia
• Mission program to bring water to the people of Zambia

[edit] Geographic locale