Country Information on Zambia 

Terrain

A highland plateau covers almost all of the country; there are several mountain chains such as the Muchinga Mountains in the north-east, the highest of which reach 2,164 m. The most important river is the Zambezi, which forms the border with Zimbabwe. It is only navigable for short stretches as it has many rapids and waterfalls, the best-known of which are the Victoria Falls. Lake Kariba is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. It formed following the construction of the Kariba dam on the Zambezi river.

Climate

Due to its high altitude, Zambia's climate is pleasant and subtropical. There are three distinct seasons: from May to August it is cool and dry with an average temperature of 17°C, from August to November it is hot and dry (average temperature of 30°C), and from November to April it is rainy with average temperatures of around 21°C and an average rainfall of 1,400 mm.

Fauna/Flora

Although Zambia is mainly covered by savannah vegetation, a large number of the original forests (dominated by teak trees) have remained. Typical tree species also include baobab trees, and papyrus plants grow in the marshland areas. Among the animals native to Zambia, there are lions, zebras, giraffes, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and various species of antelope. South Luangwa National Park is especially known for its leopards and rare antelope species. It is also the habitat of 400 different bird species, a tenth of which are birds of prey.

History/Politics

Bantu groups settled in the area of present-day Zambia around AD 1000. The centuries that followed saw other peoples migrate to the area. Over the centuries, small kingdoms were founded, with the Kingdom of Luanda emerging as the most powerful. <BR/><BR/>
In the late 19th century, the British invaded the area they then called "Barotseland" and did not encounter any opposition from local kings. English entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes (who was allowed by the British Crown to gain a monopoly on trade and mining in the region in 1889) entered into an agreement with King Lewanika a year later that established the region as a British protectorate (called "Northern Rhodesia"). In the early 20th century, extensive copper deposits were discovered, which was why a railway was built and many European settlers moved to the area. Great Britain established colonial rule in 1924 and extended copper exploitation.

By the beginning of World War II, Zambia had become one of the world's major suppliers of copper. However, the miners' misery led to a series of protests which paved the way for nationalist movements. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (or Central African Federation) consisting of Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland was founded in 1953. It was opposed by Zambian nationalists led by Kenneth Kaundas. As a result of the outbreak of violent unrest in 1961, the Central African Federation was dissolved in 1964. Northern Rhodesia became independent in 1964 and was re-named Zambia. Kaunda was elected president. He ruled for years to follow and was re-elected several times. The early 1980s saw increased criticism of Kaunda's autocratic rule; it culminated in the 1991 economic crisis as a result of the fall in copper prices in 1991. Eventually, Kaunda was forced to allow multi-party elections.

The economic crisis that was caused as a result of the worst drought of the 20th century forced president Frederick Chiluba to take drastic measures. This finally resulted in hundreds of civil servants loosing their jobs and a rise in prices. Chiluba was re-elected in 1996; Levy Mwanawasa followed him in office in 2002. After loosing his immunity, Chiluba was arrested and had to face 59 charges. Some of the charges were dropped, but in 2004 he was charged with another six offences and rearrested.

Economy

Even though Zambia's most important economic sector is mining, only 10% of the country's active population are employed in this sector. Copper and cobalt account for 60% and 19% of export earnings, respectively. However, low production levels and a fall in world prices have led to economic decline over the past few years. This in turn has resulted in the privatization of public enterprises and liberalisation of agrarian commerce. 60% of the active population are employed in the agricultural sector (mainly based on subsistence farming), while 9% work in the services sector. In 2003, the average inflation rate was 21.5%, while unemployment reached 50%.

Culture

Traditionally, Zambian girls get married at an early age. In former times, marriages were usually arranged by their parents, but young people now have more freedom in choosing their partners. The elders are, however, consulted before weddings, and experienced family members are chosen to participate in negotiations concerning the dowry offered by the bridegroom ("the bride price" commonly called lobola). The lobola ranges from a small amount of money to various numbers of livestock. If the groom cannot pay, any children the young couple have belong to the wife's family until the lobola has been paid in full.