What Do You Know about Zambia?
What Do You Know about Zambia? Officially the Republic of Zambia is in south-central Africa. Capital, Lusaka, located in the south-central part of Zambia; area about 752618 sq km (290587 sq miles). The population is concentrated mainly around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt Province to the northwest, the core economic hubs of the country.
Its neighbours are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west.
Zambia is a landlocked country, mainly plateau over 1000 m (3280 ft) above sea level, with mountains in the north-east. The altitude moderates the tropical climate, but rainfall is low in the south and, despite several large rivers, water supply is a major problem.
It was formally the British colony of Northern Rhodesia, administered by the British South Africa Company from 1889-1923. On 24 October 1964, Zambia became independent of the United Kingdom and prime minister Kenneth Kaunda became the inaugural president.
Kaunda’s socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP) maintained power from 1964 until 1991. Kaunda played a key role in regional diplomacy, cooperating closely with the United States in search of solutions to conflicts in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Angola, and Namibia.
The people come from several different groups. The Tonga live in the south, and another large group, the Bemba, live in the north-east. Most people speak one of the six Bantu languages, but there are over 60 dialects. English is spoken by many people.
Most people live in villages and are poor farmers and herdsmen, but Zambia has many mineral resources, especially copper which is the most valuable export. Efforts are being made to develop other minerals and agriculture. There is abundant woodland and teak is a minor export.