Head
of State:
President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa
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 Nguni 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 multiparty 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.
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$ 4.5bn (2004)
GDP per capita: US$ 418 (2004)
Annual Growth: 5% (2004 estimate)
Inflation: 17.5% (2004 estimate)
Major Industries: Copper, Service Industries,
Tourism, Agriculture
Major trading partners: 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. At 5% in 2004, real GDP is forecast to
rise to 6.4% in 2006. Following the privatisation of the
copper mining industry, new investment has revived its
prospects. Two new mines are due to open and the largest
mine, Konkola Deep, is expected to start production in
2007. Copper and cobalt will therefore remain the main
exports for the foreseeable future. A revival in
commercial agriculture, such as tobacco, is also
expected as farmers from Zimbabwe move to Zambia. But,
cyclical drought which afflicts all of southern Africa
affects the staple crop, maize, from time to time.
Zambia is to receive a US$3.9 bn debt write off after
reaching completion point in April 2005 under the IMF-World
Bank HIPC initiative.
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.
ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS
British passport holders require a visa to enter
Zambia. It is best to obtain visas prior to travel
in order to avoid any potential problems with the
airlines. Visas can be obtained from the Zambian
High Commission in London – see address below.
However, single entry visit visas are available at
all ports of entry at a cost of £35. You must pay
in Sterling. It is important to carry the exact
amount with you, as change may not be available. On
leaving Zambia, non-residents pay a departure tax of
US$20, payable in Dollars. Residents can pay either
US$20 or the Kwacha equivalent.
There is a special provision for day visitors coming
across the border from Zimbabwe into Livingstone.
They pay only a fee of US$10 for a "Day Tripper
Visa" but they must exit Zambia on the same day
before the border closes.
HEALTH
Please contact your
own GP or Travel clinic for the latest
recommendations and advice on vaccinations and
malaria prophylaxis.
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