Zambia

Background - The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] 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 on October 24th, 1964. Zambia is divided into nine provinces namely: Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western provinces.

Geography - Zambia is one of the smaller countries in the southern region of the African continent and has a surface area of 752,612 square kilometers. A landlocked nation, she is bordered by Angola to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the west and north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east and Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south. Centrally situated in southern and central Africa, Zambia's abundant resources include mineral deposits, arable land, water and hydroelectric power. A democratic and peaceful nation, the country has recent years begun to reap the rewards of political, social and macroeconomic stability, becoming one of Africa's emerging economic powerhouses.

Climate - Zambia is on average some 1,200 metres above sea level, and this high altitude combined with the country's geographical position has produced both temperature and sub-tropical ecosystems. Temperatures range from about 15 to 33 degrees Celsius and the climate is generally pleasant, with extreme heat limited to the southern valleys around the Zambezi River. There are basically three seasons:

a) warm/wet - November to April
b) cool/dry - May to August
c) hot/dry - September to October.

Only during the wet season is there noticeable humidity. In the river valleys of the Zambezi and Luangwa it only becomes very hot in the month of October.

Natural Resources - Zambia has a rich variety of natural resources that have contributed to the success of the country's primary sector as well as being vital in the further development of secondary industries and services such as tourism. Minerals and metals comprise copper, cobalt, zinc lead, coal, emeralds, amethyst, gold, silver and uranium, with the Copperbelt area containing some of Africa's largest deposits of copper. Good soil and large tracts of fertile, arable land as well as significant forests make agriculture an important economic sector. Water, consisting of both surface and groundwater, is to be found in Zambia's numerous lakes, dams and rivers. As such, abundant hydroelectric power is available for the country's energy needs, particularly from Kariba Dam. Game parks with an impressive wildlife resource as well as striking scenic beauty are major draw cards for tourists.

Economy - Zambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. The economy has strengthened, featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.

Cultural Heritage - Acknowledged as one of the world's most peaceful countries, Zambia's contemporary culture is a blend of the values, norms, material and spiritual traditions of more than 70 ethnically diverse people. Zambia's authentic groups are 98% African and the remaining 2% made up of Asians and Europeans.

There are more than 20 annual traditional ceremonies in Zambia manifesting customs, social life, rituals, oral history and spiritual culture. Their colorful, exuberant and entertaining insights into a traditional culture that has been passed down from generation to generation such as the Kuomboka ceremony in April the most famous of the ceremonies takes place in the Western Province when the Barotse plains flood, the Lozi Chief is evacuated from his headquarters at Lealui to Limulunga further up the Zambezi river. Likumbi Lya Mize in August is a ceremony that takes place at Mize, the official palace of the Senior Chief Ndungu about 7 kilometres west of Zambezi Boma in the Northwestern Province. The event is spiced up by traditional singing and dancing and the dancers wear the elaborate and colorful costumes popularly known as the 'Likishi'.

Language - English is the official language and most Zambians speak it fluently. There are over 70 indigenous African languages such as Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga, Kaonde, etc

Currency: Kwacha (ZMK). Highest notes are in denominations of K50,000, K20,000, K10,000.

Banking Hours: 08:15 - 14:30 hours Monday to Friday. A few Banks open on the first and last Saturdays of the month. ATM's are open 24 hours.

Business Hours: Shops usually open between 08:30 and 17:00 hours on weekdays and from 08:00 to 13:00 hours on Saturdays although some Stores/Supermarkets in particular may stay open until 20:00 hours during the week and 17:00 hours on Saturdays and a number are now open on Sundays as well.

Health Care - Health services are available around the country provided by Public and Private Clinics and hospitals, though not free and health insurance is advisable. It is recommended to carry basic medical supplies and to take precautions against Malaria. Visitors should check with their own doctors concerning immunization requirements.