Zambia ( Northern Rhodesia) is a country in Southern Africa, east of Angola. Zambia geographic coordinates 15 00 S, 30 00 E; area 740,724 sq km; area comparative slightly larger than Texas; land boundaries Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km; coastline 0 km (landlocked); maritime claims none (landlocked); climate tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April); terrain mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains; elevation extremes unnamed location in Mafinga Hil; natural resources copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower; land use 92.9% (2001); irrigated land 460 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April); environment current issues air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks; environment international agreements Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol; geography note landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe;

introduction

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the prosecution of former President Frederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters in late 2003. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly. government type republic; capital Lusaka; administrative divisions 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western; independence 24 October 1964 (from UK); national holiday Independence Day, 24 October (1964); constitution 24 August 1991; legal system based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Zambia population 11,261,795 estimates for this country explici; age structure 2.4% (male 118,043/female 154,206) (2005 est.); median age 16.67 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 2.12% (2005 est.); birth rate 41.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 20.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 95.63 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 39.98 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 5.47 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 16.5% (2003 est.); hiv people with aids 920,000 (2003 est.); hiv deaths 89,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases schist; nationality Zambian; ethnic groups African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%; religions Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%; languages English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages; literacy 74.8% (2003 est.);

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