Background to Zambia

Zambia
Zambia is a unique nation full of contrasts. Located in central sub-Sahara Africa, this country of 10 million people has one of Africa's most stable governments, yet one of its poorest populations. It is a land rich in untapped natural resources and a mild climate ideal for year round agriculture.

Language: English is the official language and most urban Zambians speak it fluently.

Government: Zambia is a Multi-Party Democratic Republic, led by a President who appoints Cabinet Ministers from the National Assembly-a chamber of 150 elected representatives.

Judicial System: The Judicial System was set up according to a British model, based on English common law and customary law. Legislative acts receive judicial review in an ad hoc constitutional council.

Economy: Zambia remains one of the world's poorest countries, with a major national debt and a weak currency. It has one of the highest levels of per capita debt in the world, and over two-thirds of all Zambians live in poverty. U.S. Dollars can be used throughout the country.

Education: Only two university-level institutions exist in Zambia to service the educational needs of its population.

Religion: Between 50-75% of Zambians are professed Christians, though many professions are more social conversions than spiritual ones. Muslims and Hindus make up the majority of the rest of the population.

Climate: Zambia's climate is generally moderate, with three seasons that vary from hot and wet, to cool and dry.

Healthcare: Typical of many third-world countries, healthcare is inadequate and largely unavailable.

Teeming with life, Zambia is world renown for its walking safaris and is home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls. A visit to Zambia reveals a friendly and generous people. What Zambians lack in physical wealth, they compensate for in their rich heritage of giving and sharing with others. Though Zambia was officially declared a "Christian nation" in 1992 by President Chiluba, this declaration was declared more to combat social, political and economical problems than spiritual ones. Statistics put the population at 50-75% Christian, but these numbers are misleading as many "Christians" still practice traditional African beliefs, such as ancestor worship and other forms of syncretism.

Zambia became independent from Britain in 1964 and has had a relatively stable Democratic government since then, with only three men serving as president. The current being the newly elected Levy Mwanawasa. This election proved a major victory for Zambia's democracy as former president Frederick Chiluba did not change the constitution regarding term limits, as many African nations have, but respected Zambia's constitution and stepped down for Mwanawasa.

Despite its rich wealth of natural resources and stable government, Zambia remains one of the world's poorest countries, with a major national debt and a weak currency. The economy of Zambia has been held hostage to the world demand for copper and cobalt, and its abundant labor force has been largely unused. Currently Zambia has the highest level of per capita debt in the world at over $600 per person, and over two-thirds of all Zambian youths are unemployed.

Zambia's ideal climate provides an excellent opportunity for an agriculture economy to bring stability to the country and less dependence on the fluctuating world market for its metals and minerals. Zambia's rainfall provides 45% of the entire water resources of Southern Africa. Power here is inexpensive and the national grid is well developed. English is the official language of Zambia, and most urban Zambians speak it fluently. Only in truly remote settlements is there a problem communicating in English, as the main vernacular languages are Bemba and Nyanja.

As with many African nations, the AIDS epidemic has overwhelmed Zambia. Newsweek magazine reported in its January 17, 2000 issue, that one in every five adults in Zambia was living with HIV/AIDS. The disease has shown no mercy on the teaching population, as documented in a 1998 LA Times article which reported that Zambia lost almost as many teachers to AIDS as were trained in the same year.