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Capital LusakaPopulation 11,261,795 (July 2005 est.)Currency Zambian kwachaLocation Southern Africa, east of AngolaGovernment Type republicLanguages English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languagesHolidays Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Background 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.Climate tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)Independence 24 October 1964 (from UK)Constitution 24 August 1991
Terrain mostly high plateau with some hills and mountainsLand Area 740,724 sq kmWater Area 11,890 sq kmTotal Area 752,614 sq kmLand Boundaries 5,664 kmBorder Countries 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 kmCoastline 0 km (landlocked)
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Some of the informaion on this page comes from the CIA World Factbook.
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