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Zambia in Brief
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Map of Zambia |
Name
of Country: Republic of Zambia
Capital:
Lusaka
Location:
Southern Africa
Border
Countries:
Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Total
Area : 752,614 sq. km. (2.5% of the area of Africa)
Climate:
Tropical with three distinct seasons: May to August is cool and dry,
September to October is hot and dry, and November to April is warm and
wet.
Population Statistics
Total
Population (in millions, 2000): 10.2
Density
(pop./sq. km., 2000): 13.5
Annual
Population Growth Rate (1990-2000): 2.9%
Total
Fertility Rate (2002): 5.9
Infant
Mortality Rate (2002): 95/1,000
Under-five
Mortality Rate (2002): 168/1,000
Life
Expectancy (USBC (2000):37 years
Literacy
Rate (2000): 78.3%
Government
Type:
Parliamentary Democracy
Ruling
Political Party:
Movement for Multi-party Democracy
(MMD)
Executive
Branch: President Levy Mwanawasa (elected in 2001)
Legislative
Branch: Unicameral National Assembly of the Republic
of Zambia. Members are elected by direct, universal, adult suffrage
on a secret ballot for a term of five years.
Judicial
Branch: Supreme Court. Judges are appointed (with
security of tenure) by the President and ratified by the National Assembly.
Languages:
English (official), over 70 local languages and dialects,
including Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja, Lozi, Luvale, Ndembu (Lunda), and Kaonde
Administrative
Divisions:
9 provinces (Copperbelt, Luapula, Lusaka,
Central, Southern, Northern, Northwestern, Western and Eastern); subdivided
into 72 districts
Independence
from British colonial rule: October 24, 1964
Economy
Currency:
Zambian Kwacha (zmk)
GDP
(Gross Domestic Product, 2002): US$3.6 billion
Annual
Growth Rate (1999-2002 Average): 3.9%
Per
Capita GDP (2002): US$353
National
Resources: Copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydroelectric power, fertile land, wildlife,
forest, abundant surface and ground water
Zambia, a landlocked, peace haven in Southern
Africa, with a population of about ten million, attained political independence
from Britain in 1964 and adopted a predominantly socialist development
agenda. Beginning in 1991, however, Zambia has been undergoing a political
transition from one-party rule to multi-party democracy. Zambia has
pursued policies of economic liberalization and structural reform programs
that have transformed her from being a centrally-planned and controlled
economy to one of the more open market economies in Africa. Free universal
basic education for every child in Zambia and access to health services
as close to the family as possible are continuing to be emphasized.
In addition, the President has commenced an unprecedented politically
driven "zero tolerance for corruption" campaign to get at the roots
of corruption in Zambia and is engaging in constitutional reforms to
address issues of governance.
The World Bank classifies Zambia as a severely
indebted, low-income country and, in terms of basic development progress,
it is ranked 153 out of 173 countries in the 2002 UN Human Development
Report. At 78% of the population, Zambia has one of the highest percentages
of people living below the poverty line in the world. Zambia has much
to improve on. Recent political and economic changes in the Zambian
environment have opened new opportunities for taking a fresh look at
developing a responsive strategy.
(Information for this
page compiled from the Bank of Zambia Fortnightly Statistics, Zambia
Demographic and Health Survey, 2001-2002 - Central Statistical Office/Ministry
of Health, Lusaka, Zambia, U.S. Bureau of Census, Zambia, 2000 Population
Census report and TheWorld Bank Country Data Profie)
For further information:
Government of the Republic of
Zambia (GRZ) - government website
US Embassy
US State Department Travel
Services and Information
US Consular Information
Sheet - travel warnings
The
World Factbook,
US Central Intelligence Agency - Country Listing: Zambia
www.africa-insites.com/zambia,
www.lonelyplanet.com,
www.onsafari.com - Zambian history,
culture, tourism, etc.
www.zambia-online.zm, www.zamnet.zm
- Information on Zambia and links to other Zambia sites
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