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Zambia ** Zambia is a landlocked country located between the southern rim of the Zaire Basin and the Zambezi River. Zambia has land borders with Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to the southeast, Botswana and Namibia to the south, Angola on the west and Zaire to the northwest.

Most of the landmass in Zambia is a high plateau lying between 3,500 and 4,500 feet above sea level. In the northeast, the Muchinga Mountains exceed 7,000 ft in height. Elevations under 2,000 ft are found in the valleys of the major river systems. Plateau land in the northeastern and eastern regions is broken by the low-lying Luangwa River., and in the western half by the Kafue River. Both rivers are tributaries of the upper Zambezi, the major waterway of the area. The frequent occurrence of rapids and falls prevents through navigation of the Zambezi.

There are three large natural lakes, the Banweulu, Mweru and Tanganyika all situated in the northern region. Lake Bangweulu and the swamps at its southern end cover an area of 3,800 sq miles and are drained by the Luapula River. The Copperbelt, which at one time, was responsible for most of Zambia's wealth, lies in the Western Province, bordering with Zaire.

//**Travel Alert:** The [|Democratic Republic of Congo] border should be avoided due to the uncertain security situation. There is the danger of landmines along the [|Angola], [|Mozambique] and DRC borders. Check Safe Travel for current government warnings.//

Advertisement If you’re out to experience the ‘real’ [|Africa], Zambia is that diamond in the rough. The country boasts some of the continent’s best wildlife parks, and shares (with [|Zimbabwe]) some of the region’s major highlights: Victoria Falls in [|Southwestern Zambia], Lake Kariba as well as [|Lower Zambezi National Park] in [|Southeastern Zambia]. It is also an angler’s dream, as fishermen hail from all over the world to try their luck on the mighty Zambezi River with the hopes of landing a toothy tigerfish or the rare, giant vundu. Avid birders also flock to Zambia to glimpse its fabulous diversity of birds, most notably Chaplin’s barbets. For independent travellers Zambia can be a challenge: distances between major towns and attractions are large, and getting around by car or public transport takes time and patience. But for many, this challenge is part of Zambia’s appeal. Save [|Lusaka] and Livingstone, this is the ‘real’ [|Africa], so rare among the increasingly developed and Westernised parts of the region. So if you like your travel easy and your wilderness neatly bundled into a homogenised and Westernised version of ‘[|Africa]’, then much of Zambia may not appeal. But if you enjoy a raw edge and an [|Africa] with few tourists, Zambia is the place you’re looking for.

[[|edit]] History
Main article: [|History of Zambia] The area of modern Zambia was inhabited by [|Khoisan] [|hunter-gatherers] until around AD 300, when technologically advanced migrating tribes began to displace or absorb them.[|[7]] In the 12th century, major waves of [|Bantu]-speaking immigrants arrived during the [|Bantu expansion]. Among them, the [|Tonga people] (also called Batonga) were the first to settle in Zambia and are believed to have come from the east near the "big sea". The [|Nkoya] people also arrived early in the expansion, coming from the [|Luba]–[|Lunda] kingdoms located in the southern parts of the modern [|Democratic Republic of the Congo] and northern [|Angola], followed by a much larger influx, especially between the late 12th and early 13th centuries. In the early 18th century, the [|Nsokolo] people settled in the [|Mbala district] of Northern province. During the 19th century, the [|Ngoni] and [|Sotho peoples] arrived from the south. By the late 19th century, most of the various peoples of Zambia were established in the areas they currently occupy. A statue of [|David Livingstone] on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls The earliest account of a European visiting the area was [|Francisco de Lacerda] in the late 18th century, followed by other explorers in the 19th century. The most prominent of these was [|David Livingstone], who had a vision of ending the [|slave trade] through the "3 C's" (Christianity, Commerce and Civilisation). He was the first European to see the magnificent waterfalls on the [|Zambezi River] in 1855, naming them [|Victoria Falls] after [|Queen Victoria]. Locally the falls are known "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or "(the) thundering smoke" (in the Lozi or Kololo dialect). The town of [|Livingstone], near the falls, is named after him. Highly publicised accounts of his journeys motivated a wave of explorers, missionaries and traders after his death in 1873. In 1888, the [|British South Africa Company], (BSA Company) led by [|Cecil Rhodes], obtained mineral rights from the [|Litunga], the king of the [|Lozi] for the area which later became [|North-Western Rhodesia].[|[8]] To the east, King [|Mpezeni] of the [|Ngoni] resisted but was defeated in battle[|[9]] and that part of the country came to be known as [|North-Eastern Rhodesia]. The two were administered as separate units until 1911 when they were merged to form [|Northern Rhodesia]. In 1923, the Company ceded control of Northern Rhodesia to the British Government after the government decided not to renew the Company's charter. That same year, Southern Rhodesia (now [|Zimbabwe]), which was also administered by the BSA Company, became self-governing. In 1924, after negotiations, administration of Northern Rhodesia transferred to the British [|Colonial Office]. In 1953, the creation of the [|Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland] grouped together Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and [|Nyasaland] (now [|Malawi]) as a single semi-autonomous region. This was undertaken despite opposition from a sizeable minority of Africans, who demonstrated against it in 1960–61.[|[10]] Northern Rhodesia was the centre of much of the turmoil and crisis characterizing the federation in its last years. Initially, [|Harry Nkumbula]'s African National Congress (ANC) led the campaign that [|Kenneth Kaunda]'s United National Independence Party (UNIP) subsequently took up. A two-stage election held in October and December 1962 resulted in an African majority in the legislative council and an uneasy coalition between the two African nationalist parties. The council passed resolutions calling for Northern Rhodesia's secession from the federation and demanding full internal self-government under a new constitution and a new [|National Assembly] based on a broader, more democratic franchise. The federation was dissolved on 31 December 1963, and in January 1964, Kaunda won the first and only election for Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia. The [|Colonial Governor], Sir [|Evelyn Hone], was very close to Kaunda and urged him to stand for the post. Soon afterwards there was an uprising in the north of the country known as the [|Lumpa] Uprising led by [|Alice Lenshina] – Kaunda's first internal conflict as leader of the nation. Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia on 24 October 1964, with Kaunda as the first president. At independence, despite its considerable mineral wealth, Zambia faced major challenges. Domestically, there were few trained and educated Zambians capable of running the government, and the economy was largely dependent on foreign expertise.[//[|citation needed]//] There were 70,000 Europeans in Zambia in 1964, who were of great economic importance.[|[11]] During the next decade, Kaunda's regime supported movements such as [|UNITA] in Angola; the [|Zimbabwe African People's Union] (ZAPU); the [|African National Congress] (ANC) in South Africa; and the [|South West Africa People's Organization] (SWAPO).[//[|citation needed]//] Kaunda developed close relations with [|communist] regimes in the [|Soviet Union] and the [|People's Republic of China]. Kaunda developed a close friendship with Iraqi [|dictator] [|Saddam Hussein].[|[12]][//[|dubious] – [|discuss] //] Kaunda developed his regime along the lines of [|Stalin],[//[|citation needed]//] promoting a [|cult of personality].[//[|citation needed]//] There was no free press.[|[13]][//[|dubious] – [|discuss] //] Conflict with Rhodesia resulted in the closure of the border with that country in 1973 and severe problems with international transport and power supply. However, the [|Kariba hydroelectric] station on the Zambezi River provided sufficient capacity to satisfy the country's requirements for electricity (despite the fact that the control centre was on the [|Rhodesian] side of the border). A [|railway] to the [|Tanzanian] port of [|Dar es Salaam], built with [|Chinese] assistance, reduced Zambian dependence on railway lines south to South Africa and west through an increasingly troubled Angola. Until the completion of the railway, however, Zambia's major artery for imports and the critical export of copper was along the TanZam Road, running from Zambia to the port cities in Tanzania. The [|Tazama oil pipeline] was also built from Dar-es-Salaam to [|Ndola] in Zambia. By the late 1970s, Mozambique and Angola had attained independence from [|Portugal]. Zimbabwe achieved independence in accordance with the 1979 [|Lancaster House Agreement], however Zambia's problems were not solved. Civil war in the former Portuguese colonies created an influx of [|refugees] and caused continuing transportation problems. The [|Benguela railway], which extended west through Angola, was essentially closed to traffic from Zambia by the late 1970s. Zambia's strong support for the ANC (despite both the Zambian ANC and the SA ANC being banned within Zambia), which had its external headquarters in Lusaka, created security problems as South Africa raided South African ANC military training camps in Zambia. In the mid-1970s, the price of [|copper], Zambia's principal export, suffered a severe decline worldwide. In Zambia's situation, the cost of transporting the copper great distances to market was an additional strain. Zambia turned to foreign and international lenders for relief, but, as copper prices remained depressed, it became increasingly difficult to service its growing debt. By the mid-1990s, despite limited debt relief, Zambia's per capita foreign debt remained among the highest in the world. In June 1990 riots against Kaunda accelerated. Many protesters were killed by the regime in breakthrough June 1990 protests. Kaunda faced one coup attempt in 1990. In 1991, Kaunda's dictatorship fell and was replaced by multiparty elections. In the 2000s, the economy has stabilized, attaining single-digit inflation in 2006–2007, real GDP growth, decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade. Much of its growth is due to foreign investment in Zambia's mining sector and higher copper prices on the world market.

[[|edit]] Government
Liberation statue in front of a government buildingMain article: [|Politics of Zambia] Zambian politics take place in a framework of a [|presidential] [|representative democratic] [|republic], whereby the [|President of Zambia] is both [|head of state] and [|head of government] in a pluriform multi-party system. The government exercises executive power, while legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. Zambia became a republic immediately upon attaining independence in October 1964.

[[|edit]] Provinces
Main articles: [|Provinces of Zambia] and [|Districts of Zambia]The provinces of Zambia Zambia is divided into nine [|provinces], each administered by an appointed deputy minister. Each province is subdivided into several [|districts] with a grand total of 72 districts. The provinces are:
 * [|Central]
 * [|Copperbelt]
 * [|Eastern]
 * [|Luapula]
 * [|Lusaka]
 * [|Northern]
 * [|North-Western]
 * [|Southern]
 * [|Western]

[[|edit]] Population of major cities

 * ~ City ||~ Population ||
 * [|Lusaka] || 3,100,000 ||
 * [|Ndola] || 747,900 ||
 * [|Kitwe] || 363,734 ||
 * [|Kabwe] || 213,800 ||
 * [|Chingola] || 150,500 ||
 * [|Luanshya] || 124,800 ||
 * [|Livingstone] || 108,100 ||

[[|edit]] Education
Main articles: [|Education in Zambia] and [|List of schools in Zambia] Education in Zambia is provided at three levels: Basic education (years 1 to 9), and upper secondary (years 10 to 12). Some schools provide a "basic" education covering years 1 to 9, as year 9 is considered to be a decent level of education for the majority of children. However, tuition is only free up to year 7, and [|UNESCO] estimated that 80% of children of primary school age in 2002 were enrolled.[|[14]] Most children drop out after year 7 when fees must be paid. Both government and private schools exist in Zambia. The private school system began largely as a result of Christian mission efforts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Amongst famous private schools are the International School of Lusaka, Rhodes Park School (Unofficially ranked as the best private school in Zambia), the Roman Catholic run St Mary's Seminary located in the Msupadzi area, south of Chipata, Eastern Province and Simba International School close to Ndola, Copperbelt Province. Private schools operate primarily under the British way of schooling, but also offer curricula approved by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ). An example of a school that has offered a dual program in in both the ECZ and Cambridge curriculum is [|Mpelembe Secondary School]. Educational opportunities beyond secondary school are limited in Zambia. After secondary school, most students study at the various colleges, around the country. There are three main universities: the [|University of Zambia] (UNZA), [|Mulungushi University] (MU) and the [|Copperbelt University] (CBU). Normally they all select students on the basis of ability; competition for places is intense. The introduction of fees in the late 1990s has made university level education inaccessible for some, although the government does provide state bursaries. Copperbelt University opened in the late 1980s, taking over most of the former Zambia Institute of Technology site in Kitwe. Other centres of education include the Public Administration College (NIPA), the Northern Technical College (NORTEC), the National Resources Development College (NRDC), the Evelyn Hone College, and Northrise University. There are also several teacher training colleges offering two-year training programmes, whilst missionary hospitals around the country offer internationally acceptable training for nurses. Several Christian schools offer seminary-level training.

[[|edit]] Geography
Main article: [|Geography of Zambia]Map of Zambia[|Victoria Falls] is by some measures the largest waterfall in the world[|Kalambo Falls]See also: [|List of settlements in Zambia] Zambia is a [|landlocked] country in southern Africa, with a [|tropical climate] and consists mostly of high [|plateau], with some hills and mountains, dissected by river valleys. At 752,614 km2 (290,586 sq mi) it is the 39th-largest country in the world (after [|Chile]) and slightly larger than the US state of [|Texas]. Zambia is drained by two major river basins: the [|Zambezi] basin in the south covering about three-quarters of the country; and the [|Congo] basin in the north covering about one-quarter of the country. A very small area in the north-east forms part of the internal drainage basin of [|Lake Rukwa] in Tanzania. In the Zambezi basin, there are a number of major rivers flowing wholly or partially through Zambia: the [|Kabompo], [|Lungwebungu], [|Kafue], [|Luangwa], and the Zambezi itself, which flows through the country in the west and then forms its southern border with [|Namibia], [|Botswana] and [|Zimbabwe]. Its source is in Zambia but it diverts into Angola, and a number of its tributaries arise in Angola's central highlands. The edge of the [|Cuando River] floodplain (not its main channel) forms Zambia's south-western border, and via the [|Chobe River] that river contributes very little water to the Zambezi because most is lost by evaporation).[|[15]] Two of the Zambezi's longest and largest tributaries, the Kafue and the Luangwa, flow mainly in Zambia. Their confluences with the Zambezi are on the border with Zimbabwe at Chirundu and [|Luangwa town] respectively. Before its confluence, the Luangwa River forms part of Zambia's border with [|Mozambique]. From Luangwa town, the Zambezi leaves Zambia and flows into Mozambique, and eventually into the [|Mozambique Channel]. The Zambezi falls about 100 metres (328 ft) over the 1.6 km (0.99 mi) wide [|Victoria Falls], located in the south-west corner of the country, subsequently flowing into [|Lake Kariba]. The Zambezi valley, running along the southern border, is both deep and wide. From Lake Kariba going east it is formed by [|grabens] and like the Luangwa, Mweru-Luapula, [|Mweru-wa-Ntipa] and Lake Tanganyika valleys, is a [|rift valley]. Landscape of Zambia. The north of Zambia is very flat with broad plains. In the west the most notable being the [|Barotse Floodplain] on the Zambezi, which floods from December to June, lagging behind the annual rainy season (typically November to April). The [|flood] dominates the natural environment and the lives, society and culture of the inhabitants and those of other smaller, floodplains throughout the country. In Eastern Zambia the plateau which extends between the Zambezi and Lake Tanganyika valleys is tilted upwards to the north, and so rises imperceptibly from about 900 m (2,953 ft) in the south to 1,200 m (3,937 ft) in the centre, reaching 1,800 m (5,906 ft) in the north near Mbala. These plateau areas of northern Zambia have been categorised by the [|World Wildlife Fund] as a large section of the [|Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands] [|ecoregion]. Eastern Zambia shows great diversity. The Luangwa Valley splits the plateau in a curve north east to south west, extended west into the heart of the plateau by the deep valley of the [|Lunsemfwa River]. Hills and mountains are found by the side of some sections of the valley, notably in its north-east the Nyika Plateau (2,200 m/7,218 ft) on the Malawi border, which extend into Zambia as the Mafinga Hills, containing the country's highest point, Kongera (2,187 m/7,175 ft). The Muchinga Mountains, the watershed between the Zambezi and Congo drainage basins, run parallel to the deep valley of the Luangwa River and form a sharp backdrop to its northern edge, although they are almost everywhere below 1,700 m (5,577 ft). Their culminating peak Mumpu is at the western end and at 1,892 m (6,207 ft) is the highest point in Zambia away from the eastern border region. The border of the [|Congo Pedicle] was drawn around this mountain. The southernmost headstream of the Congo River rises in Zambia and flows through its north firstly as the [|Chambeshi] and then, after the [|Bangweulu Swamps] as the [|Luapula], which forms part of the border with the [|Democratic Republic of the Congo]. The Luapula flows south then west before it turns north until it enters [|Lake Mweru]. The lake's other major tributary is the [|Kalungwishi River], which flows into it from the east. The [|Luvua River] drains Lake Mweru, flowing out of the northern end to the [|Lualaba River] (Upper Congo River). [|Lake Tanganyika] is the other major [|hydrographic] feature that belongs to the Congo basin. Its south-eastern end receives water from the [|Kalambo River], which forms part of Zambia's border with Tanzania. This river has Africa's second highest uninterrupted waterfall, the [|Kalambo Falls].

[[|edit]] Climate
Main article: [|Climate of Zambia] The climate of Zambia is [|tropical] modified by [|elevation]. In the [|Köppen climate classification], most of the country is classified as humid subtropical or tropical wet and dry, with small stretches of semi-arid steppe climate in the south-west and along the Zambezi valley. There are two main seasons, the [|rainy season] (November to April) corresponding to summer, and the [|dry season] (May/June to October/November), corresponding to winter. The dry season is subdivided into the cool dry season (May/June to August), and the hot dry season (September to October/November). The modifying influence of altitude gives the country pleasant [|subtropical] weather rather than tropical conditions during the cool season of May to August.[|[16]] However, average monthly temperatures remain above 20°C over most of the country for eight or more months of the year.

[[|edit]] Economy
Main article: [|Economy of Zambia]The major Nkana open copper mine, [|Kitwe]. About 68% of Zambians live below the recognised national [|poverty line],[|[17]] with rural poverty rates standing at about 78%[|[18]] and urban rates of 53%.[|[19]] Zambia ranked 117th out of 128 countries on the 2007 [|Global Competitiveness Index], which looks at factors that affect economic growth.[|[20]] Per capita annual incomes are currently at about one-half their levels at independence and, at $395, place the country among the world's poorest nations. Social indicators continue to decline, particularly in measurements of life expectancy at birth (about 40.9 years) and maternal mortality (830 per 100,000 pregnancies)[|[1]]. The country's rate of economic growth cannot support rapid population growth or the strain which [|HIV]/[|AIDS] related issues place on the economy. During the decades of Kaunda's socialist policies, Zambia fell into poverty, especially after international copper prices declined in the 1970s. The socialist regime made up for falling revenue with several abortive attempts at [|International Monetary Fund] [|structural adjustment] programmes (SAPs). After the dictatorship ended, successive governments have begun limited reforms. The economy stagnated until late 1990s. In 2007 Zambia recorded ninth consecutive year of economic growth. [|Inflation] was 8.9%, down from 30% in 2000.[|[21]] Zambia is still dealing with economic reform issues such as the size of the [|public sector] and improving Zambia's social sector delivery systems.[|[21]] Economic regulations and [|red tape] are extensive, and corruption is widespread. Zambia's total foreign debt exceeded $6 billion when the country qualified for [|Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative] (HIPC) debt relief in 2000, contingent upon meeting certain [|performance criteria]. Initially, Zambia hoped to reach the HIPC completion point, and benefit from substantial debt forgiveness, in late 2003. In January 2003, the Zambian government informed the [|IMF] and [|World Bank] that it wished to renegotiate some of the agreed performance criteria calling for privatisation of the Zambia National Commercial Bank and the national telephone and electricity utilities. Although agreements were reached on these issues, subsequent overspending on civil service wages delayed Zambia's final HIPC debt forgiveness from late 2003 to early 2005, at the earliest. In an effort to reach HIPC completion in 2004, the government drafted an austerity budget for 2004, freezing civil service salaries and increasing a number of taxes.[//[|citation needed]//] The Zambian economy has historically been based on the [|copper mining] industry. Output of copper had fallen, however, to a low of 228,000 metric tons in 1998, after a 30 year decline in output due to lack of investment, low copper prices, and uncertainty over privatisation. In 2002, following privatisation of the industry, copper production rebounded to 337,000 metric tons. Improvements in the world copper market have magnified the effect of this volume increase on revenues and foreign exchange earnings. Recently, firms like [|Vedanta Resources], a [|London]-based miner acquired [|Konkola Copper Mines] (KCM). Vedanta transformed the company and continues investing in the Zambian economy. For example, it is undertaking the largest single investment in the country in early 2006.[//[|citation needed]//] The Zambian government is pursuing an economic diversification programme to reduce the economy's reliance on the copper industry. This initiative seeks to exploit other components of Zambia's rich resource base by promoting agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining, and hydro-power. In 2003, exports of [|nonmetals] increased by 25% and accounted for 38% of all export earnings, previously 35%. The Zambian government has recently been granting licenses to international resource companies to prospect for minerals such as nickel, tin, copper and uranium.[|[22]] It is hoped that nickel will take over from copper as the country's top metallic export. In 2009, Zambia has been badly hit by the [|world economic crisis].[|[23]]

[[|edit]] Demographics
Main article: [|Demographics of Zambia]See also: [|HIV/AIDS in Zambia]Mwata [|Kazembe] XVII Paul Kanyembo Lutaba chief of the Lunda people in Zambia in 1961 Zambia is one of the most highly urbanised countries in sub-Saharan Africa with 44% of the population concentrated in a few urban areas along the major transport corridors, while rural areas are sparsely populated. Unemployment and underemployment in urban areas are serious problems, while most rural Zambians are [|subsistence farmers]. The population comprises approximately 72 ethnic groups, most of which are Bantu-speaking. Almost 90% of Zambians belong to the nine main ethnolinguistic groups: the [|Nyanja-Chewa], [|Bemba], [|Tonga], [|Tumbuka], [|Lunda], [|Luvale], [|Kaonde], [|Nkoya] and [|Lozi]. In the rural areas, each ethnic group is concentrated in a particular geographic region of the country and many groups are very small and not as well known. However, all the ethnic groups can be found in significant numbers in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. Zambian children Expatriates, mostly British or South African, as well as some white Zambian citizens, live mainly in Lusaka and in the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, where they are either employed in mines, financial and related activities or retired. There were 70,000 Europeans in Zambia in 1964, but many have since left the country.[|[11]] Zambia also has a small but economically important Asian population, most of whom are [|Indians] and [|Chinese]. An estimated 80,000 Chinese are resident in Zambia.[|[24]] In recent years, several hundred dispossessed white farmers have left [|Zimbabwe] at the invitation of the Zambian government, to take up farming in the Southern province.[|[25]][|[26]] According to the //World Refugee Survey 2008// published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Zambia has a population of [|refugees] and asylum seekers numbering approximately 113,200. The majority of refugees in the country came from the [|Democratic Republic of Congo] (55,400 refugees from the DRC living in Zambia in 2007), [|Angola] (40,800; see [|Angolans in Zambia]) and [|Rwanda] (4,000).[|[27]] Beginning in May 2008, the number of [|Zimbabweans in Zambia] also began to increase significantly; the influx consisted largely of [|Zimbabweans formerly living in South Africa] who were fleeing [|xenophobic violence there].[|[28]] Nearly 60,000 refugees live in camps in Zambia, while 50,000 are mixed in with the local populations. Refugees who wish to work in Zambia must apply for official permits which can cost up to $500 per year.[|[27]]

[[|edit]] Languages
The official language of Zambia is [|English], which is used to conduct official business and is the medium of instruction in schools. The main local language, especially in Lusaka, is Nyanja. However, [|Bemba] and [|Nyanja] are spoken in the urban areas in addition to other indigenous languages which are commonly spoken in Zambia. These are: Ambo, Aushi, Bisa, Chikunda, Cishinga, Cokwe, Gova, Ila, Inamwanga, Iwa, Kabende, Kaonde, Kosa, Kunda, Kwandi, Kwandu, Kwangwa, Lala, Lamba, Lenje, Leya, Lima, Liyuwa, Lozi, Luano, Lucazi, Lumbu, Lunda, Lundwe, Lungu, Luunda, Luvale, Makoma, Mambwe, Mashasha, Mashi, Mbowe, Mbukushu, Mbumi, Mbunda, Mbwela, Mukulu, Mulonga, Ndembu, Ng'umbo, Nkoya, Nsenga, Nyengo, Nyiha, Sala, Seba, Senga, Shanjo, Shila, Simaa, Soli, Subiya, Swaka, Tabwa, Tambo, Toka, Tonga, Totela, Tumbuka, Twa, Unga, Wandya and Yombe. Estimates of the total number of languages spoken in Zambia add up to 72[|[29]], thirteen (13) dialects are counted as languages in their own right which brings this number to 85. The process of urbanisation has had a dramatic effect on some of the indigenous languages, including the assimilation of words from other indigenous languages and English. Urban dwellers sometimes differentiate between urban and rural dialects of the same language by prefixing the rural languages with 'deep'. Most will thus speak [|Bemba] and [|Nyanja] on the Copperbelt while [|Nyanja] is dominantly spoken in Lusaka and Eastern Zambia. English is used in official communications and the chosen (husbands/wives) language at home if (as is now common) there is an intertribal family. As a member of the [|SADC], [|Portuguese] was introduced in the nation as an instruction in its primary school system, especially that there is a strong [|Angolan population] in the nation.[|[30]] Languages like Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale, and Tonga come from other country explorers.

[[|edit]] Religion
See also: [|Religion in Zambia] Zambia is officially a [|Christian] nation, but a wide variety of religious traditions exist. Traditional religious thoughts blend easily with Christian beliefs in many of the country's syncretic churches. Christian denominations include: [|Roman Catholic], [|Anglican], [|Pentecostal], [|New Apostolic Church], [|Lutheran], [|Seventh-day Adventist], [|Jehovah's Witnesses] and a variety of [|Evangelical] denominations. These grew, adjusted and prospered from the original missionary settlements ([|Portuguese] and Catholicism in the east from [|Mozambique]) and Anglicanism (English and Scottish influences) from the south. Except for some technical positions (e.g. physicians), Western missionary roles have been assumed by native believers. After [|Frederick Chiluba] (a Pentecostal Christian) became President in 1991, Pentecostal congregations expanded considerably around the country.[|[31]] Approximately 5% of the population are [|Muslims] with most living in urban areas.[|[32]] There is also a small [|Jewish] community, composed mostly of [|Ashkenazis]. Notable Jewish Zambians have included [|Simon Zukas], retired Minister, MP and a member of [|Forum for Democracy and Development] and earlier on the [|MMD] and [|United National Independence Party]. Additionally, the economist [|Stanley Fischer], currently the governor of the [|Bank of Israel] and formerly head of the [|IMF] also was born and partially raised in Zambia's Jewish community. The [|Baha'i] population of Zambia is over 160,000,[|[33]] or 1.5% of the population. The William Mmutle Masetlha Foundation[|[34]] run by the Baha'i community is particularly active in areas such as literacy and primary health care.

[[|edit]] Health
[|HIV] prevalence exceeds 10 %. [|[35]] Public expenditure on health was at 3.4 of the GDP in 2004. [|[36]] Private expenditure on health was at 2.9 % in the same year. [|[37]] Health expenditure was at US$ 63 (PPP) in 2004. [|[38]] [|Infant mortality] was at 102 per 1,000 in 2005. [|[39]]

[[|edit]] Culture
Main article: [|Culture of Zambia]Wire craft in [|Kitwe] The [|culture of Zambia] is mainly indigenous [|Bantu] culture mixed with European influences. Prior to the establishment of modern Zambia, the indigenous people lived in independent tribes, each with their own ways of life. One of the results of the colonial era was the growth of urbanization. Different ethnic groups started living together in towns and cities, influencing each other as well as adopting a lot of the [|European culture]. The original cultures have largely survived in the rural areas. In the urban setting there is a continuous integration and evolution of these cultures to produce what is now called "Zambian culture". Nshima (top right corner) with three relishes Traditional culture is very visible through colourful annual [|Zambian traditional ceremonies]. Some of the more prominent are: [|Kuomboka] and [|Kathanga] (Western Province), [|Mutomboko] (Luapula Province), [|Ncwala] (Eastern Province), [|Lwiindi] and [|Shimunenga] (Southern Province), [|Likumbi Lyamize] (North Western), [|Chibwela Kumushi] (Central Province), [|Ukusefya Pa Ng’wena] (Northern Province). Popular traditional arts are mainly in pottery, basketry (such as [|Tonga baskets]), stools, fabrics, mats, wooden carvings, ivory carvings, wire craft and copper crafts.[//[|citation needed]//] Most [|Zambian traditional music] is based on drums (and other percussion instruments) with a lot of singing and dancing.[//[|citation needed]//] In the urban areas foreign genres of music are popular, in particular Congolese [|rumba], African-American music and Jamaican reggae.[//[|citation needed]//] The Zambian staple diet is based on [|maize]. It is normally eaten as a thick porridge, called [|Nshima] (Nyanja Word), prepared from maize flour commonly known as mealie meal. This may be eaten with a variety of vegetables, beans, meat, fish or sour milk depending on geographical location/origin. [|Nshima] is also prepared from [|cassava], a staple food in some parts of the country.

[[|edit]] Sports
Zambia declared its independence on the day of the closing ceremony of the [|1964 Summer Olympics], thereby becoming the first country ever to have entered an Olympic games as one country, and left it as another.[//[|citation needed]//] Today, the most popular sport in Zambia is [|football] ([|soccer]) and the [|Zambia national football team] has had its triumphant moments in football history. At the Seoul Olympics of 1988, the National Team defeated the Italian National team by a score of 4–0. [|Kalusha Bwalya], Zambia's most celebrated football player and one of Africa's greatest football talents had a hat trick in that match. However to this day, many pundits say the greatest team Zambia has ever assembled was the one that perished on 28 April 1993 in a plane crash at Libreville, Gabon. Despite this, in 1996, Zambia was ranked 15th on the official FIFA world football/soccer team rankings, the highest attained by any southern African team. Zambia also produced the first black African (Madalitso Muthiya) to play in the United States Golf Open, one of the four major golf tournaments. Rugby, boxing and cricket are also popular sports in Zambia. Notably, at one time in the early 2000s, the [|Australia] and [|South Africa] national rugby teams were captained by players born in the same Lusaka hospital, respectively [|George Gregan] and [|Corné Krige]. Zambia boasts having the highest rugby poles in the world, located at Luanshya Sports Complex in Luanshya.[//[|citation needed]//] [|Rugby union in Zambia] is a minor but growing sport. They are currently ranked 73rd by the [|IRB] and have 3,650 registered plays and 3 //formally organised// clubs.[|[40]] Zambia used to play cricket as part of [|Rhodesia]. Zambia has also strangely provided a [|shinty] international, Zambian-born [|Eddie Tembo] representing Scotland in the [|compromise rules Shinty/Hurling] game against [|Ireland] in 2008.[|[41]] In 2011, Zambia is due to host the [|tenth All-Africa Games], for which three stadiums will be built in [|Lusaka], [|Ndola], and [|Livingstone].[|[42]] The Lusaka stadium will have a capacity of 70,000 spectators while the other two stadiums will hold 50,000 people each. The government is encouraging the private sector to get involved in the construction of the sports facilities because of a shortage of public funds for the project. Zambia has since revoked its bid to host the 2011 All-Africa Games, citing a lack of funds. Instead, Mozambique will be hosting. Zambia took part in the [|2008 Summer Olympics] in [|Beijing].


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