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Zambia
Area: total area 752,614 sq km
Population: 11.8m (2006)
Capital City: Lusaka (population about 1.4m)
People: There are over 73 different ethnic groups among Zambia's indigenous population. Major groups are the Bemba (in the north and the Copperbelt), the Tonga (south) and Lozi(west).
Languages: There are 7 official languages. English is the language of government.
Religion(s): Christianity. A few Muslims and Hindus (most from South Asia). Indigenous beliefs retain influence.
Currency: Kwacha Exchange rate: June 2007 - Kwacha 8083 - £1
Major Political Parties: Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), United National Independence Party (UNIP), United Party for National Development (UPND), Patriotic Front (PF), Heritage Party (HP) and Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).
Head of State: President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
Foreign Minister: Mundia Sikatana
Membership of international organisations: African Union (AU), Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
GEOGRAPHY
Zambia is a land-locked country occupying an elevated plateau in south central Africa. Eight other countries border Zambia: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe. Zambia's shortest route to the sea is via Zimbabwe to Beira in Mozambique.
HISTORY
Zambia's geographical position kept it largely free of foreign influences until the 19th century. The Lunda and Bemba kingdoms, in what is now northern Zambia, were the largest pre-colonial polities, joined from 1838 by the Lozi, whose kingdom still survives today (as Barotseland). As elsewhere in southern Africa, there was also an influx of Ngoni settlers at about the same time. But the greatest political changes began in 1890 when Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company signed a series of treaties with local leaders, leading to the establishment of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. Copper mining, which began in the early 20th century, led to an influx of Europeans, although white settlement never reached the levels it did in Southern Rhodesia. In 1953 the two Rhodesias were joined with Nyasaland (now Malawi) in the short-lived Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, vociferously opposed by black nationalist leaders who saw it as a vehicle for white domination. Following the Federation's collapse in 1963, Northern Rhodesia gained independence as the Republic of Zambia in 1964.
The United National Independence Party (UNIP), led by Dr Kenneth Kaunda, won the 1964 elections. At the end of 1972 Zambia was declared a one party state. Political and economic pressures, largely the result of a fall in copper prices, but also of the country's support for independence movements elsewhere in southern Africa, led to social unrest and a coup attempt in 1990. Kaunda accepted the need for multi-party democracy, and in 1991 the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), led by the trade unionist Frederick Chiluba, swept to power in both parliamentary and presidential elections. UNIP became the main opposition party.
POLITICS
The 1991 constitution, amended in 1996, provides for a multi-party system, a President whose tenure is limited to two terms of five years and a National Assembly of 158 members, 150 elected and 8 nominated by the President. There is also a 27-member House of Chiefs, an advisory body. A new constitution is currently under debate but is unlikely to be agreed until at least 2008.
Chiluba's attempt to change the constitution, in order to stand for a third presidential term, provoked a political crisis in 2001. Another MMD candidate, Levy Mwanawasa, became president at the end of that year with only 30% of the popular vote. MMD was the single largest party in parliament, but without an overall majority. On coming to power President Mwanawasa launched an anti-corruption campaign which led to the arrest of ex-president Chiluba and a number of other senior figures in politics, business and public service. This precedent – the first time in the region that a former head of state had been pursued in such a manner – has had an impact beyond Zambia (particularly in Malawi, where newly-elected president Mutharika turned on his predecessor in a similar manner). Mwanawasa has also introduced opposition politicians into his cabinet, provoking resentment – and failed legal counter-attacks – from their parties, who described it as 'unconstitutional'. This approach seems to have been abandoned in his second term of office.
In the 2006 elections Mwanawasa - who suffered a minor stroke in April - faced a serious challenge from Michael Sata's Patriotic Front. But in the end he got 43% of the popular vote - a significant improvement on his winning share last time round - against Sata's 29%.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Human rights are improving in Zambia. Although never particularly bad by regional standards, there were repressive policies associated with UNIP's one-party rule, and in response to alleged attempts to overthrow both UNIP and MMD governments. But President Mwanawasa has notably commuted the death sentences given to the 1997 coup plotters and indicated his opposition to judicial execution. Media harassment by government is the main area of concern. Editors and journalists have been arrested under public security legislation for 'spreading fear and alarm'. Outside of state institutions there is concern within Zambian society about the prevalence of the sexual abuse of young girls.
Human Rights
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$ 10.1bn (2006)
Annual Growth: 5.8% (2006 actual)
Inflation: 8.2% (2006 actual)
Major Industries: Copper, other mining activities, wholesale and retail trade, agriculture. manufacturing, service industries, and tourism.
Major trading partners: South Africa, EU and Japan and South Africa
The economy of newly-independent Zambia was overly reliant on a single export, copper. The negative effect of the fall in copper prices in the 1970s and 1980s was exacerbated by the centralised economic policy pursued by UNIP, and its failure to develop other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture. Disenchantment with UNIP's mismanagement of the economy contributed greatly to the party’s electoral defeat in 1991.
The new MMD government has pursued liberal economic policies, and although their effectiveness has been bedevilled by mismanagement and corruption, the decade since 1995 has seen sustained economic growth unmatched since the 1960s Zambia has recorded positive growth in GDP for the last 7 years (1999-2006) with growth accelerating to 5.2% in 2005 and 5.8% in 2006. The fastest growing sectors are mining, energy (particularly hydroelectric power generation), construction and tourism.
Inflation fell to single digits in 2006 (8.2% at end of year) for the first time in 30 yearsFollowing the privatisation of the copper mining industry, new investment has revived its prospects. Two new mines are due to open and potentially the largest mine, Konkola Deep, is expected to start production in 2010Copper and cobalt will therefore remain the main exports for the foreseeable future. Some revival in commercial agriculture, including maize, tobacco, cotton and coffee has also been seen in recent years, partly as a result of farmers from Zimbabwe moving to Zambia. Chronic livelihoods insecurity of the majority of Zambians is compounded by periodic shocks such as cyclical drought which affects the staple rain-fed maize crop.
Zambia completed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) process in 2005 and has received significant debt relief under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), having received 100% debt stock cancellation of loans owed to the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank.
DEVELOPMENT
Zambia ranks low in the UNDP's 2006 Human Development Index, at 165 out of 177 countries. Infant mortality rates are amongst the worst in sub Saharan Africa. One in five mothers is HIV positive - Zambia has one of the world's highest prevalence of HIV infection. It kills around 80,000 people each year. 65% of hospital beds in Zambia are occupied by people with HIV/AIDS related infection. Apart from AIDS, the main causes of death are malaria (50,000 each year), tuberculosis, diarrhoea, pneumonia and other preventable or treatable infections.
United Nations Development Programme in ZambiaThe UK is one of the largest bilateral donors to Zambia and has provided an average of £39 million per year over the last three years through general budget support to the Zambian government.
DFID's primary aim in Zambia is to support the implementation of the Government of Zambia's 5th National Development Plan (NDP). The NDP outlines the country’s plans for reducing poverty and improving growth. DFID principally contributes to: - Improving the public financial management system and supporting the Government's fight against corruption;
- Reforming the public sector;
- Strengthening the health system;
- Providing an effective HIV and AIDS response;
- Enhancing social protection measures which help to reduce the impact of damaging events such as drought or disease on poor people.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Zambia, under Kaunda, was a founder member of the 'front line states' which played a leading role in the liberation of neighbouring states in the 1970s and 1980s. Both the ANC of South Africa and SWAPO of Namibia had their headquarters in Lusaka for many years. This exposed Zambia to attacks from apartheid South Africa. Equally Zambia's support for ZAPU brought attacks from the white minority regime of Southern Rhodesia. Zambia's sympathy for UNITA caused friction with Angola. Zambia's economy suffered badly when the border with Southern Rhodesia was closed on UDI, depriving it of cheap trade routes to the south. China financed and built the Tan-zam railway to allow Zambia to export its copper through Dar es Salaam instead. Overall, Zambia paid a heavy price for its support of the liberation struggle in southern Africa.
From the 1990s, with all countries in the region now independent, Zambia has maintained good relations with its neighbours. The spill-over from conflicts in Angola and DR Congo has occasionally strained relations with those two countries. Zambia has hosted thousands of refugees from both countries in UNHCR-run camps. Since the peace agreement in Angola in 2002, most Angolan refugees have returned home. Zambia has a good record of participation in UN Peace-Keeping operations. Zambia hosts the headquarters of COMESA and will host the SADC Summit in August 2007.
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