Zambia

HISTORY

The area where Zambia is now was first visited by Portuguese in the late 18th century and by David Livingstone in 1851.

The British colonised the region into the British protectorates of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century. These were merged in 1911 to form Northern Rhodesia.

As Northern Rhodesia it became a British Protectorate in 1924, together with the former kingdom of Barotziland (now Western Province).

From 1953 the country, with Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi), was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which was dissolved in 1963.

Map of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. By Mangwanani 

In 1953, the creation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland grouped together Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland as a single semi-autonomous region.

By the early 1960s a sizeable minority of the population were demonstrating against the creation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Initially, Harry Nkumbula's African National Congress (ANC) led the campaign before Kenneth Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP) subsequently took it up. In January 1964, UNIP won the next election, securing Kaunda's position as prime minister.

Zambia achieved full independence when Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia on October 24, 1964. It became a member of the Commonwealth, with Kenneth Kaunda as president.

The flag of Zambia was hoisted for the first time at midnight on October 23, 1964, symbolising patriotism and the nation's natural resources.

Zambia flag

Zambia is the only country to have entered an Olympics as one country (Northern Rhodesia) and left the games as another. Zambia declared independence on the last day of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

At first Zambia was troubled with frequent outbreaks of violence because of disputes within the governing party and conflicts between the country's 73 tribes.

Zambia was economically dependent on neighbouring white-ruled Rhodesia (formerly White Rhodesia) but tolerated liberation groups operating on the border and relations between the two countries deteriorated. The border was closed in 1973 and 1976.

Kenneth Kaunda (born April 28. 1924) ruled Zambia for 30 years with his party UNIP. From 1973 UNIP was the only legal party and all other parties were banned.

Kaunda during an official visit to the United States in 1983

After protests, democratic elections were held in 1991. Kenneth Kaunda lost the elections and gave away his power to his successor Frederick Chiluba, a former trade union leader.

In the 1960s, Zambia was making a lot of money because of the copper deposits that were mined in Copperbelt province. However, by the mid-1970s, the price of copper suffered a severe decline worldwide. Zambia turned to foreign and international lenders for relief, but as copper prices remained depressed, it became increasingly difficult to service its growing debt.

In the 2000s, Zambia's economy stabilized, attaining single-digit inflation in 2006–2007, real GDP growth, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade. Much of its growth was due to foreign investment in mining and to higher world copper prices.

FUN ZAMBIA FACTS

Zambia is named after the Zambezi River, which arises in the country and flows into the Indian Ocean.

Zambia is bordered by 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.

The border between Botswana and Zambia is at 700m (2,300 ft) known as the shortest border between two fully independent countries.

Lusaka is the capital of Zambia with a population of about 1.7 million. Approximately 80% of residents of Lusaka, Zambia, live in kombonis, a type of compound or informal housing area characterized by a low income and a high population density. These areas typically have limited access to water, poor sanitation, few healthcare facilities, and limited access to employment.

Lusaka is home to the Freedom Statue that commemorates Zambia's struggle for independence and the zoo and botanical gardens of the Munda Wanga Environmental Park.

Freedom statue

Zambia's floriculture industry is vastly dominated by the production of roses, which comprise nearly 95% of the country's flower exports.

18 members of the Zambia national football team and the coching staff lost their lives in a plane crash off Libreville, Gabon on April 27, 1993. They were en route to Dakar, Senegal to play a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

Just three years later, the new Zambian team reached the final of the African Cup of Nations, a remarkable achievement that was widely celebrated in Zambia and beyond.

Chikanda is a popular savory snack in Zambia that is made by combining orchid tubers, ground peanuts and chillies.

Zambia's national bird is the fish eagle.

Zambia boasts Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. It emits a water spray that can be seen 30 miles (48 km) away. Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Victoria Falls Pixiebay

The local currency is kwacha.

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