Zambia


FACTS AND FIGURES

Area: 752,610 sq. km (17th in Africa)
Capital: Lusaka
Largest towns: Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone, Kabwe, Kitwe
Population: 11.2 million
Official language: English
Currency: Zambian Kwacha
Head of state: President Levy Manawasa
Life expectancy: 40 years
Literacy: 80 %

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Victoria Falls, Lower Zambezi River, South Luangwa National Park.

MAIN INCOME

It used to be copper, Tourism. No major other sources of income.

MAJOR CULTURES

39 Different tribes. European – colonial ex-pats.

RELIGIONS

Christian, ZCC and Muslim.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Landlocked. Transitional zone together with Malawi between east and southern Africa.
Country consists mainly of an undulating plateau sloping to the South.
Three distinct seasons – cool and dry from May to August; hot and dry from September to October; and rainy between November and April.

HISTORY

Known as Northern Rhodesia before independence.
Created by Cecil John Rhodes’ company British South Africa Company (BSAC) in 1890’s.
Late 1920’s large copper ore deposits found in North.
Under British control in 1924.
1964 gained independence – Zambia Kenneth Kaunda president (leader of majority party UNIP).
In power for 27 years – declared UNIP the only legal party with himself sole presidential candidate in 1972.
October 1991 – full elections, UNIP defeated by MMD under Frederick Chiluba.
Manawasa became president in 2003.

CRIME AND SAFETY

Pretty safe country all round. Lusaka is dangerous – be careful when walking around there.

MONEY

Very poor currency.
You cannot get money out of the banks on credit cards, or any other way.
Money changing available.
Banking – 08:15 to 14:45 Monday to Wednesday
and Friday, and 09:00 to 11:00 and Thursday
(and on Saturday in Lusaka).

POST AND TELEPHONE

Bad postal and telephone service