Zambia is a landlocked state in south-central Africa. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the north, Tanzania in the northeast, Malawi in the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia in the south, Angola in the west.

Most of Zambia lies on a rolling plateau that slopes southward. Areas of elevated relief include the famous Copper Belt and the picturesque Nyik Plateau on the border with Malawi, on which the country's highest point, Mwanda Peak (2150 m), is located. The territory is also characterized by flat tectonic depressions (Bangweulu, Luangwa Valley), which are part of the Great African Rift.

Almost all the rivers of the country belong to the basin of the border river Zambezi (Kafue, Luangwa, smaller tributaries), and the rivers of the north belong to the basin of the Congo River. On the Zambezi River (on the border with Zimbabwe), the largest Kariba reservoir has been created. On the border of Zambia with Zimbabwe, there are waterfalls on the Zambezi River, including the famous Victoria Falls.

Zambia has one of the largest and most compact copper ore deposits in the world.

Climate in Zambia

Zambia is located in the tropics (tropical climate), but due to its position (the country is landlocked and most of the territory is located above sea level), there are 3 specific seasons:

Dry season is from May to August. This is the coolest time of the year - the temperature during the day stays at +24..+28°C, at night it can drop to +7°C. This is the best time to visit the country, especially for animal watching.

The hot season is from September to November. The average temperature during the day is around +38..+42°C. At this time, there is a high probability of seeing a large number of animals congregating near water bodies.

The rainy season is from December to April. The average daytime temperature is +32°C. This is the rainiest period of the year, so roads washed out by the rains become impassable, and it is best to use four-wheel drive vehicles to travel through the parks.

Last changes: 16.05.2013

Population

Population of Zambia- 12.1 million (2010).

Urban population - 35% (in 2008).

Average life expectancy - 38.9 years (in 2010, 223rd place in the world).

Infection with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - 15.2% (2007 estimate, 7th in the world).

Ethnic composition: Bemba - 35%, Tonga - 15%, Malawi - 13%, Lozi - 9%, other African peoples. Whites - 0.3%, Asians - 0.2%.

Christianity (Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Adventists, Pentecostals, etc.) and Christian-African cults are practiced by about 70% of the population. Muslims make up about 5%.

The official language is English, which is used in government offices and is the language of instruction in schools.

Local languages ​​are widely spoken: Bemba 35.1%, Nyanja 10.7%, Tonga 10.6%, Lozi 5.7%, Lunda 2.2%, Kaonde 2%, Luvale 1.7% and about 60 other indigenous languages. languages.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

About money

Zambian kwacha(ZMK or ZK) is the currency of the Republic of Zambia. 1 kwacha is made up of 100 ngwee.

Kwacha means "freedom" in one of the local dialects. In 2003, Zambia was the first African country to introduce banknotes made of polymeric materials into circulation - banknotes of 500 and 1000 kwachas.

In circulation there are coins in denominations: 25 and 50 ngwee, 1, 5 and 10 kvacha, banknotes in denominations: 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 kvacha. Due to inflation, coins are in circulation only nominally.

It is better to exchange currency in specialized points, currency exchange on the street is not safe, because. You can easily become a victim of scammers. It will be more problematic to exchange travel checks, because. only banks in Lusaka accept them for exchange (and only American Express checks), in addition, the exchange rate is very low and when selling travel checks you will also be charged a high commission for exchanging Usd/Euro for local currency.

Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 08:15 to 17:30; and on the first and last Saturday of the month from 08:15 to 11:30.

New denominations of $50 and $100 are mainly accepted for exchange, small denominations are more difficult to exchange. It is better to take dollars with you, because. exchanging euros in small towns is quite problematic, in addition, the exchange rate is very unfavorable.

Some hotels, restaurants and large shops accept credit cards. And some banks (for example, Standard Chartered, Stanbic and Barclays Banks) have ATMs where you can withdraw cash.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

Communication and communications

Phone code: 260

Internet domain: .zm

Phone codes of cities

Lusaka - 211, Livingston - 213

How to call

To call from Zambia to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

To call from Russia to Zambia, you need to dial: 8 - 10 - 260 - area code - subscriber number.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

Where to stay

IN national parks x Zambia, tourists live in "lodges" and "camps".

Lodges are usually one main one- or two-story building with 60-100 rooms plus several smaller buildings or detached houses. In general, something like the well-known holiday village in Turkey, but in the "African" version.

Camps are a kind of field tent camps, only the sizes and interiors of the tents are more like hotel rooms. The camp usually consists of twelve to fifteen tents.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

History of Zambia

The territory of modern Zambia has been inhabited since ancient times. Several thousand years ago, tribes of Bushmen (hunters and gatherers) lived there. About two thousand years ago, the territory of Zambia was settled by the Hottentot tribes (farmers and cattle breeders) who came from the north, they forced the Bushmen to the south.

Then, about a thousand years ago, the Bantu tribes came from Central Africa, displacing the Hottentots. The Bantu were engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding, blacksmithing. Later they began to develop copper mines, trade with merchants of the Indian Ocean coast.

In the 18th century, it developed early public education- Barotse. The supreme ruler (mulena) and the tribal nobility lived at the expense of the labor of community members and slaves. The slaves were mostly prisoners captured as a result of raids on neighboring tribes.

The first Europeans (Portuguese traders) appeared on the territory of modern Zambia in the 18th century. They (as well as Arab merchants) bought ivory and copper. In the 19th century, Britain, Germany and Belgium became interested in this region. The greatest success in Zambia was achieved by the British. Since 1891, Barotseland (now the Western Province of Zambia) became a British protectorate. In the same year, Britain and Portugal signed an agreement on the division of the Zambezi river basin.

Opening in that region in late XIX century of the richest deposits of copper and polymetallic ores stimulated the penetration into Zambia of the "British South Africa Company" (BSAC), created by Cecil Rhodes. The company began to develop mining and copper industries there, build cities and railways.

The company received from the British government a monopoly on the development of a vast territory - from the sources of the Congo to the Zambezi. In 1895, the territories where the BSAC worked were named Southern, Northwestern and Northeastern Rhodesia (a name derived from the name of Rhodes) - the last two were merged in 1911 into Northern Rhodesia. It was not until 1924 that Northern Rhodesia was given the official status of a British crown colony and a governor appointed (with the preservation of the Barotseland protectorate).

During the 1920s and 30s, the colony flourished thanks to mining and the immigration of white settlers who established farms.

In 1953-1963, Northern Rhodesia, along with Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

In 1963, Northern Rhodesia received a constitution and self-government. In early 1964, elections were held for the Legislative Council, in which the radical UNIP party, led by Kenneth Kaunda, won.

Independent Zambia

October 24, 1964 the country gained independence and the name - the Republic of Zambia. Kenneth Kaunda became president.

In April 1967, Kaunda proclaimed his concept of "building a Zambian humanism". This concept rejected the capitalist form of the economy, instead of which government regulation was introduced.

In November 1968, Kaunda dissolved parliament. Since 1969, the process of nationalization began, primarily in the key industry - the copper industry. In December 1972, a one-party system of government was introduced in Zambia. The process of nationalization was continued in various sectors of the economy.

With the beginning of the construction of "Zambian humanism", more and more intensifying difficulties in the life of the country began - an increase in consumer prices, an increase in unemployment, a shortage of basic foodstuffs. Despite the ban on strikes since 1970, the number of such protests grew.

Zambia, having the largest Natural resources has become one of the poorest countries in the world. In 1991, Kenneth Kaunda allowed elections to be held on a multi-party basis. These elections were won by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, and on November 2, 1991, Kaunda lost power. The era of "construction of Zambian humanism" has ended.

Frederick Chiluba, leader of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, became the new president of Zambia and sharply criticized Kaunda's policies. He abolished the centralized management of the economy, abolished state subsidies and began the privatization of nationalized enterprises. Chiluba managed to maintain popularity and win presidential elections 1996, but already in the following year, dissatisfaction with his policy of part of society resulted in an attempted military coup, in which Kaunda was accused. After several years of martial law, Chiluba held new presidential elections.

On January 2, 2002, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, also a representative of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, became the new president.

On June 29, 2008, in connection with the fatal illness of Mwanawasa, the vice-president, representative of UNIP, Rupia Banda, assumed the duties of the President. After Mwanawasa's death on 19 August 2008, he won the presidential election and became the new president of Zambia.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

When is the best time to go to Zambia

best time for animal watching in the Luangwa River Valley (North Luangwa and South Luangwa Parks) is a dry season from June to October, while it should be noted that the rainy season has its advantages: landscapes become more colorful, as well as an increase in bird populations, primarily turn due to migrating from the north of the country.

Victoria Falls, on the contrary, is recommended to visit during the rainy season (April-May), at this time of the year it is the most full-flowing, sometimes the waterfall is shrouded in such a dense layer of water dust that it is quite difficult to see it in its entire width. To see the bizarre rocky formations and gorges, as well as try to swim in the so-called "Devil's Font" above the cliff, you should go to the waterfall when the water level is low, i.e. at the end of the dry season (October-December).

The best time to visit Kafue National Park and Lower Zambezi National Parks is from May to October, when the roads are not washed out by rains and the heat is tolerated quite easily.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

Tap water in Zambia is not potable, so we strongly recommend that you use only bottled water for drinking.

In the markets and in small private shops, it is recommended to bargain - this is not only a common, but also an expected procedure.

If you travel by train in Zambia - we advise you to stock up drinking water. And also do not leave valuables at the windows during stops.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

How to get to Zambia

There is no direct air service between Russia and Zambia.

Zambia can be reached with 1-2 transfers at one of the European airports and South Africa. The most convenient connections are offered by British Airways (via London) and KLM (via Amsterdam). Some flights from Europe are operated not only to Lusaka, but also to the city of Livingston, next to the Victoria Falls.

Some local airlines, such as South African Airways, fly from Johannesburg (South Africa) to Zambia (travel time is about 2 hours).

By train

The only international line connecting Zambia with neighboring states is Kapiri Mposhi - Dar es Salam in Tanzania. Trains run twice a week in each direction. Travel time 38 hours.

The city of Kapiri Mposhi is located 200 km northeast of Lusaka.

Traveling by train is the most comfortable and fastest way to get from the capital of Tanzania to Zambia after air travel. Trains have three classes, while there are no berths in the third class.

By car

Zambia has many border crossings with neighboring states: Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola and Congo. The most famous and popular with tourists border crossings:

From Zimbabwe: Chirundu on the main highway between Lusaka and Harare; Siavonga/Kariba and the most famous crossing Livingston/Victoria Falls at Victoria Falls.

From Malawi: Mchini on the Lusaka-Lilongwe main highway.

From Namibia: Katima Mulilo, crossing the Zambezi River.

With Tanzania: Nakonde/Tunduma.

With Mozambique: Mlolo / Cassacatiza (Mlolo / Cassacatiza).

From Botswana: Kuzungula crossing the Zambezi River. Zambia's border with Botswana is considered one of the shortest in the world - only 750 meters.

Last changes: 05/16/2013

Geography of Zambia

The state of Zambia is located in central Africa, in its southern part. There is no access to the sea. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to the south, and Angola to the west.

The main territory of the country is located on a plateau, and approximately 70% of the area of ​​​​Zambia is occupied by the Zambezi River basin, the rest belongs to the Congo River basin. Between Zambia and Zimbabwe there are waterfalls, in particular, the famous Victoria Falls.

State structure of Zambia

At the head of the state is the President, who personifies the legislative and executive power, and is also the commander-in-chief of all armed forces. Legislative power is also represented by the unicameral National Assembly.

Weather in Zambia

The climate of Zambia is mild, equatorial. Three seasons can be distinguished here. Winter, which lasts from May to August, is a cold and dry season. The hot and dry season is spring, which starts in September and ends in November. And finally, the warm and wet season is summer, which starts in December and ends in April. In the coldest season of the year, the average temperature ranges from +16°С to +27°С, and in the hot season from +27°С to +38°С.

Language of Zambia

The official language of Zambia is English, which can be spoken even in remote areas of the country. But local languages ​​​​and dialects are also common, of which there are more than 70.

Religion in Zambia

Three quarters of the Zambian population are Christians, but most of them combine Christianity and local cults, and approximately 17% of the inhabitants are Muslims.

Currency of Zambia

The monetary unit of Zambia is the Zambian kwacha, which is equal to 100 ngwee.

You can exchange currency at any of the banks, or at a Forex exchange office, in addition, at some large hotels and at the airport. Forex points offer the most favorable exchange rate.

If you plan to visit major cities in Zambia, then there will be no problems with the provision of banking services. Large shops, restaurants and hotels, along with traveler's checks, will accept plastic cards of the most common payment systems Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Access, but in small towns this may be difficult.

Customs restrictions

You can import foreign currency without restrictions, subject to filling out a declaration. You can also take out the imported currency without problems, but there are restrictions on the export, as well as on the import, of the national currency.

Without paying a duty, you can bring into the country up to 200 cigarettes and within 450 g of tobacco, alcoholic beverages only one bottle can be imported, it should be noted that it must be uncorked. Other items and things are imported to the extent necessary for personal use.

Cannot be imported into Zambia firearms and drugs. It is forbidden to export unprocessed precious and ornamental stones, as well as ivory products (without the permission of the authorities), skins of wild animals, souvenir coins can be exported if there is an account from a special store.

Importation of animals

In order to bring pets into the country, you need to have a certificate from a veterinarian with marks about the vaccinations against distemper and rabies delivered to the animal.

Tips

Usually tips are 10% and are automatically included in most restaurants in the bill. When traveling by taxi, it is better to discuss the cost with the driver in advance, you can round the price up.

Purchases

When shopping in small shops and markets, it is customary to bargain.

Office Hours

IN weekdays working hours of banks from 10.00 to 16.00, and on Saturdays from 8.30 to 11.00.

Zambia- a state in southern Central Africa. In the north it borders on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania, in the east - on Malawi, in the southeast - on Mozambique, in the south - on Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, in the west - on Angola.

The name comes from the name of the Zambezi River.

Capital

Square

Population

9770 thousand people

Administrative division

The state is divided into 9 provinces.

Form of government

Republic.

head of state

President elected for a term of 5 years.

supreme legislative body

Unicameral Parliament (National Assembly).

Supreme executive body

Government (Cabinet of Ministers).

Big cities

Ndola, Livingston, Kabwe.

Official language

English.

Religion

60% are pagans, 30% are Christians.

Ethnic composition

98.7% - Bantu peoples, 1.1% - Europeans.

Currency

Kwacha = 100 ngway.

Climate

Despite the fact that Zambia is located in the tropical zone, the climate in the country is mild subtropical. The average annual temperature is + 19 °С. The rainy season lasts from November to March. The annual rainfall ranges from 700 mm in the south to 1500 mm in the north.

Flora

Almost the entire territory of the state is occupied by savannah, where a large number of baobabs and acacias are found, teak forests grow in the southwest. Tropical rainforests are common in the valleys.

Fauna

The animal world of Zambia is characterized by an elephant, a lion, a rhinoceros, several species of antelope, a zebra, a jackal, a hyena, a crocodile. Inhabits a large number of snakes and birds. Occasionally there are ostriches. Termites, mosquitoes, tsetse flies are common.

Rivers and lakes

The main rivers are the Zambezi and its tributaries the Kafue and Luangwa, as well as the Luapula and Chambeshi. Largest lakes- Bangweulu, the southern part of Lake Tanganyika, the eastern part of Mneru and Kariba is the largest reservoir.

Attractions

National parks, Victoria Falls, as well as the city of Kabwe, near which the remains of the "Rhodesian man" were found, who lived at the same time as the Neanderthal. There is an Anthropological Museum in the capital.

Useful information for tourists

The most common type of dwellings are round huts with mud or wicker walls and conical reed roofs. Traditions and the consciousness of belonging to one's clan play an exceptional role in the life of Zambians, determining their daily behavior. Two systems of kinship are common: patrilineal - kinship through the male line and matrilineal - through the female line. The first is found in the Tonga, the second in the Bemba. Zambia attracts foreign tourists with its pristine nature: 19 national parks, one of the largest Victoria Falls in the world. Not far from Livingston is Cultural Center Maramba is an open-air ethnographic museum: more than 50 buildings represent typical dwellings of different peoples. Around them, craftsmen demonstrate their art in traditional crafts.

Zambia area. 752,614 km2.

Population of Zambia. 9770 thousand people

Administrative divisions of Zambia. The state is divided into 9 provinces.

Form of government of Zambia. Republic.

Head of State of Zambia. President elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislature of Zambia. Unicameral Parliament (National Assembly).

Supreme executive body of Zambia. Government (Cabinet of Ministers).

Major cities in Zambia. Ndola, Livingston, Kabwe.

State language of Zambia. English.

Religion in Zambia. 60% are pagans, 30% are Christians.

Ethnic composition of Zambia. 98.7% - Bantu peoples, 1.1% -.

Currency of Zambia. Kwacha = 100 ngway.

Fauna of Zambia. The animal world of Zambia is characterized by an elephant, a lion, a rhinoceros, several species of antelope, a zebra, a jackal, a hyena, a crocodile. Inhabits a large number of snakes and birds. Occasionally there are ostriches. Termites, mosquitoes, tsetse flies are common.

Rivers and lakes of Zambia. The main rivers are the Zambezi and its tributaries the Kafue and Luangwa, as well as the Luapula and Chambeshi. The largest lakes are Bangweulu, the southern part of the lake, the eastern part of Mneru and Kariba - the largest.

Sights of Zambia. National parks, as well as the city of Kabwe, near which the remains of the "Rhodesian man" were found, who lived at the same time as the Neanderthal. There is an Anthropological Museum in the capital.

Useful information for tourists

The most common type of dwellings are round huts with mud or wicker walls and conical reed roofs. Traditions and the consciousness of belonging to one's clan play an exceptional role in the life of Zambians, determining their daily behavior. Two systems of kinship are common: patrilineal - kinship through the male line and matrilineal - through the female line. The first is found in, the second - in the Bemba. Zambia attracts foreign tourists with its pristine nature: 19 national parks, one of the largest Victoria Falls in the world. Not far from Livingstone is the Maramba Cultural Center - an open-air ethnographic museum: more than 50 buildings represent typical dwellings of different peoples. Around them, craftsmen demonstrate their art in traditional crafts.

Zambia (Zambia), Republic of Zambia (Republic of Zambia).

General information

state in southeastern Central Africa. It borders in the north with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania, in the east with Malawi, in the southeast with Mozambique, in the south with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, in the west with Angola. The area is 752.6 thousand km 2. Population 11.49 million (2007). The capital is Lusaka. The official language is English. The monetary unit is the kwacha. Administrative-territorial division: 9 provinces (table).

Zambia is a member of the UN (1964), Commonwealth (1964), OAU (1964), African Union (2002), Non-Aligned Movement (1964), IBRD (1965), WTO (1995), IMF (1965), Southern African Development Community ( 1980), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA; 1994).

N. V. Vinogradova.

Political system

Zambia is a unitary state. The Constitution was adopted on August 30, 1991 (as amended on May 28, 1996). The form of government is a presidential republic.

The head of state and executive power is the president, elected by the population for a term of 5 years (with the right of one re-election). A citizen of Zambia who is at least 35 years old, has Zambian parents, and has lived in Zambia for at least 20 years, can be elected President.

The highest body of legislative power is the unicameral parliament (National Assembly). Consists of 150 deputies elected by the population and 8 members appointed by the president. The term of office of Parliament is 5 years.

Government - The Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the President, consists of the Vice President and ministers. Members of the Cabinet are appointed by the President from among the deputies of Parliament and are responsible to the National Assembly.

Zambia has a multi-party system. The leading parties are the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the United Party for National Development, the Forum for Democratic Development.

Nature

Relief. Most of the territory of Zambia is occupied by medium-altitude, slightly undulating basement plateaus 1100–1350 m high, slightly inclined to the south and separated by extensive depressions of predominantly tectonic origin (the valleys of the upper reaches of the Zambezi River in the west, the valley of the Luangwa River in the east, the lake basins of Mweru, Bangweulu, etc.) . Gentle swampy surfaces predominate, complicated by periodically flooded rounded depressions (“dambo”). Above general level The plateau rises island mountains (the so-called spears) and mountain ranges (the Muchinga Mountains, height up to 1893 m). The spurs of the Nyika plateau in the extreme northeast of the country (Mwanda peak, height 2150 m, the highest point of Zambia) are distinguished by the most dissected relief.

Geological structure and minerals. The territory of Zambia is located in the southern part of the Precambrian African Platform, between the Archean cratons of Central African, Tanzanian and Zimbabwe. The Bangweulu block in the northeast of Zambia is composed of Lower Proterozoic granite gneisses and migmatites, granites (age 1880-1860 million years) and felsic volcanic rocks, which are overlain by a layer of sandstones, quartzites and mudstones of the Lower - Middle Proterozoic (accumulated 1800-1250 million years ago). From the north, the Bangweulu block is bounded by the Early Proterozoic Ubendi fold system, composed of metamorphic rocks and granites. The Irumid Middle Proterozoic folded belt (1350-1100 million years) stretches across the entire territory of Zambia from the southwest to the northeast. Metamorphosed sandy-argillaceous deposits, as well as Archean gneisses and granites (platform basement rocks) take part in its structure. Intrusions of granites and charnockites are developed. Late Proterozoic folded belts are represented by the so-called Lufilian arc (in the north and northwest of Zambia) and the Zambezi and Mozambique belts (in the southeast). The Lufilian arc, which is part of the Damar-Katanga fold belt extending from the west, and the Zambezi belt are formed by marine terrigenous-carbonate deposits of the Upper Proterozoic and shillings. Outcrops of basement rocks are known. From the east, the Mozambique granulite-gneiss belt enters the territory of Zambia (the main phase of folding is 850-750 million years ago, the final phase is 690-540 million years ago). Late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian granitoids are widespread in the southeast of Zambia. The grabens of the middle reaches of the Zambezi River, the Luangwa, Lukusashi and Kafue rivers are filled with conglomerates, sandstones, tillites, coals, siltstones and basalts of the Karoo complex (Upper Carboniferous - Jurassic), which are partially overlain by Cretaceous continental rocks. Significant areas in western Zambia are covered with Quaternary eolian deposits of the Kalahari group. In the Pliocene-Quaternary, riftogenic grabens appeared in the eastern part of Zambia, expressed in relief as mountain valleys with steep slopes (the valley of the Luangwe River and the middle reaches of the Zambezi River) and lake depressions (Mweru, Tanganyika).

Zambia is rich in minerals. The most important are copper and cobalt ores. Zambia is one of the ten countries in the world with the largest copper reserves.

The main deposits belong to the Copper belt of Central Africa.

The ores of the stratiform deposits of this belt (Nchanga, Baluba, Mopani, Nkana, Luanshya, etc.) also contain very large reserves of cobalt. Most of the gold reserves are associated with small gold deposits (Chumbwe, Dunrobin, Matala, etc.) and the Kansanshi copper-pyrite deposit. Deposits of coal (in the south and in the center of the country), pyrite (Nampundwe), nickel (Munali), gemstone raw materials (amethyst, emerald, aquamarine, tourmaline, garnets, alluvial diamonds), limestones, dolomites, gypsum, clays, sand and gravel. In Zambia, deposits of ores of iron, manganese, lead, zinc, silver, selenium, tin, tungsten, uranium, and phosphorus are also known.

Climate. Zambia is located within the subequatorial climate zone.

During the year, there is a clear change of three seasons: from May to July, a relatively cool and dry season lasts; from August to October - hot and dry; from November to April - warm and humid. The average temperatures of the warmest month (October) range from 23 ° C in the mountains to 27 ° C in the valleys of the Luangwa River and the middle course of the Zambezi, the coldest (July) - from 14 to 22 ° C, frosts are possible at night in mountainous areas. The amount of precipitation generally decreases from northwest to southeast from 1250 to 700 mm per year. More than 1500 mm of precipitation per year falls on the windward slopes of the Muchinga Mountains. The driest regions of the country are the valleys of the middle reaches of the Zambezi and Luangwa rivers (600-700 mm of precipitation per year). More than 80-90% of precipitation falls from January to March.

Inland waters. The river network is dense and branched. Over 4/5 of the country's territory belongs to the Zambezi River basin.

From its source in northwestern Zambia, the Zambezi first extends out of Zambia, but south of 12°30' south latitude flows through and along the southwestern part of the country. southern border, taking the largest tributaries Kafue and Luangwa. Below the confluence of the Chobe River (Linyanti) on the Zambezi is the Victoria Falls - one of the largest in the world in terms of width. The northeastern part of the country is drained by the rivers of the Congo Basin: the Luapula with a tributary of the Chambeshi, and others. The rivers of Zambia are predominantly rain-fed. During the rainy season (January - March), flood waters flood vast areas in the valley of the upper Zambezi (from the mouth of the Kabompo River to the Ngonye waterfalls for over 100 km), in the valley of the Kafue River, etc. The rivers of Zambia have a high hydropower potential. On the Zambezi River is the Kariba reservoir, one of the largest in the world; on the Kafue River - the Itezhi-Tezhi reservoir.

The main lakes of Zambia (Bangweulu, the southeastern part of Lake Mweru, the southern part of Lake Tanganyika, Mweru-Wantipa) are located in depressions of tectonic origin. The areas of lakes are subject to seasonal fluctuations. Significant areas are occupied by wetlands (bogs of Lukanga, Bangweulu, Mweru-Vantipa, etc.).

Annually renewable water resources are 105 km3; water supply 9.7 thousand m 3 / person. in year. For economic needs, no more than 2% of water resources are used annually (of which 77% is spent on agricultural needs, 16% - on domestic water supply, 7% is consumed by industrial enterprises).

Soils, flora and fauna. The soil cover is dominated by sandy and thin ferrozems. In the wetter regions in the north of the country, red ferralitic soils are common; lateritization processes are typical, leading to the formation of hard lateritic crusts up to 6 m thick. Dark-colored slithozems are developed in the Luangwa river valley.

In the composition of the flora (over 4700 species of vascular plants), 40% are trees and shrubs. Forests and woodlands occupy 57% of the territory of Zambia (2005). The main type of vegetation is the dry forests of miombo with sparse stands of predominantly brachistegia, julbernardia, and isoberline genera, in some places replaced by the derived type of vegetation "chipya" (pterocarpus, parinaria, etc.) and secondary acacia savannahs. In the most arid regions (the Luangwa valleys and the middle course of the Zambezi), mopane savanna woodlands predominate. In the north-west of the country, small tracts of evergreen forests of cryptosepalum with dense undergrowth and an abundance of lianas (kombretum, uvaria, etc.) have been preserved; in the southwest, patches of deciduous forests of Rhodesian teakwood. Mountain forests are distinguished by a high diversity of orchids (over 360 species). Within the limits of the dambo and river valleys periodically flooded by flood waters, grasslands with temeda, hyparrenia, ludecia, and others are common; the vegetation of the swamps is represented by thickets of reeds and papyrus.

The ecosystems of Zambia are characterized by high faunal diversity. Over 250 species of mammals are known, including 11 endangered species. Miombo and savannas are characterized by large herbivores: African elephant, African buffalo, giraffe, rhinos (2 species), zebra; a variety of bovids (over 20 species), including Kafuen lychee (endemic to Zambia), sitatunga, impala, great kudu, jumping antelope, blue wildebeest. The number of large carnivores (lion, leopard) has been declining since the 1970s; genets, mongooses, jackals, etc. are more numerous. Some animals (buffalo, impala, lion) are subject to limited licensed hunting. The largest representative of the theriofauna of inland waters is the hippopotamus. The avifauna (over 770 species of birds) includes many endemics. Reptiles are diverse (over 140 species); among them - the Nile crocodile, several species of turtles, African python. Found everywhere Poisonous snakes(Mozambique and Egyptian cobras, black mamba, several species of African vipers). Over 400 species of fish; Lake Tanganyika is distinguished by the greatest diversity and endemism of the ichthyofauna. Among commercial fish, tilapia is especially famous (several species, including Mozambique). Of the insects, termites and mosquitoes are common. Over 1 / 2 of the territory of Zambia is infected with the tsetse fly - a carrier of pathogens of deadly diseases in cattle.

To protect rare and endangered species of animals, 77 protected areas have been created. natural areas occupying about 30% of the country's territory, including 22 national parks with a total area of ​​6.34 million hectares (2006). national park Kafue (2.24 million ha) is one of the largest in the world. To the wetlands international importance assigned areas of Lokinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks; Swamp of Bangweulu. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, which includes the Zambian part of the Victoria Falls, is included in the World Heritage List.

Lit.: Fanshawe D. B. The vegetation of Zambia. Lusaka, 1971; Dunhan K.M. Vegetationenvironment relations of a Middle Zambezi floodplain // Plant Ecology. 1989 Vol. 82. X? 1; Zambia. country report. L., 1999; Zambia: millennium development goals. , 2005.

D. V. Solovyov; N. A. Bozhko (geological structure and minerals).

Population

Bantu peoples make up 89.5% of the population (2007, estimate), of which Bemba 25.5%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.2%, Toni 4.8%, Luba 2.3% , Lunda - 2%, Mbundu - 1.4%, Shona - 0.3%, Tetela - 0.3%, Swahili - 0.2%. Of the Khoisan peoples, the San (0.5%). Among the rest - Afrikaners (0.4%), Gujaratis (0.2%), Greeks (0.1%).

The high natural population growth (2.1% in 2006) is due to the high birth rate (41 per 1,000 inhabitants), more than twice the death rate (19.9%). The fertility rate is 5.4 children per woman. Infant mortality is 87 per 1000 live births. Average age population 16.5 years. Young people (under 15 years old) make up 46.3% of the population, people of working age (15-65 years old) - 51.3%, over 65 years old - 2.4% (2006). Average life expectancy is 40 years (men - 39.8 years, women - 40.3 years). There are 99 men for every 100 women. The average population density is 15.3 people / km 2. The most densely populated provinces are Lusaka (78.1 people / km 2) and Copperbelt (over 52 people / km 2; especially along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a number of large cities are located). Zambia is one of the most urbanized countries Tropical Africa About 50% of the population lives in cities. Large cities (thousand people, 2007): Lusaka (1347), Kitwe (416), Idola (402), Kabwe (193), Chingola (148). Economically active population 4.9 million (2006). 85% of employees are employed in agriculture, 9% in the service sector, and 6% in industry. Unemployment rate 50% (2000). About 80% of the population lives below the poverty line.

N. V. Vinogradova.

Religion

According to various sources, about 80-85% of the population are Christians (according to other sources, from 50 to 75%), about 10-15% are Muslims and Hindus (according to other sources, from 24 to 49%). Baha'i and Judaic (Ashkenazi) communities are not numerous - respectively, about 1.5 and less than 1% of the population (2006-07). There are no statistical data on the number of adherents of local traditional beliefs due to the fact that they are practiced by the majority of the population together with other religions (primarily Christianity and Hinduism).

Christians predominate in the north of Zambia in large cities, as well as in the so-called Copper Belt. There are the Zambian diocese (pulpit in Lusaka) of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church, parishes of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches [Church of the province of Central Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi)], communities of numerous Protestant denominations. The most influential Protestant organizations are: the United Church of Zambia, which includes Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist communities, the Reformed Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Afro-Christian syncretic cults include the Kitawala sect and the Lumpa Church, whose adherents live in the central and northern regions of Zambia (mainly representatives of the Bemba people). In 1992, the Zambians were officially declared a "Christian nation", while maintaining a tradition of religious tolerance.

Sunni Muslims (Hanifites and Shafiites) and Ismailis live in large cities. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there is a trend towards the spread of Islam among the poorest rural population.

Historical outline

The oldest monuments of human activity on the territory of Zambia belong to Ashel. The remains of a fossil man (Kabwe and others) have been found. More recent archaeological sites refer to the circle of "Sango" cultures, known in a large part of sub-Saharan Africa; for the Neolithic, monuments of the Nachikuzh culture (polished axes, numerous grain graters, etc.) and, in the south, the traditions of Wilton are indicative. In the early Iron Age (no later than the 4th century AD), the Calambo and other cultures spread here, belonging to the circle of ceramic cultures “with a grooved (cut-out) ornament.” The ethnic composition of the population of Zambia was formed as a result of the migrations of the Bantu peoples, who almost completely assimilated the earlier population (Koisan peoples). With the settlement of the Bantu on the territory of Zambia, agriculture, cattle breeding, blacksmithing began to develop, and a number of early state associations were formed. In the 17th-19th centuries, part of modern Zambia was part of the state of Lunda. At the end of the 18th century, the state formation of Kazembe arose in the northeast of Zambia, in the middle of the 18th century, the state of Lozi (Barotse), later known as Barotseland, was formed in the southwestern regions of Zambia.

At the end of the 18th century, the penetration of the Portuguese into Zambia began [expeditions of M. G. Pereira (1796), F. J. de Lacerda y Almeida and F. J. Pinto (1798-99)]. In the middle of the 19th century, Great Britain began to show interest in Zambia. In 1890, emissaries from the British South Africa Company (BSAC) imposed a series of treaties on the concession to develop mineral resources on the leaders of local tribes. In the same year, Great Britain declared this region a sphere of its interests and occupied the eastern regions of the headwaters of the Zambezi River, which were called Southern Rhodesia. In 1891, the colonialists advanced north of the Zambezi River, Barotseland was declared a protectorate of Great Britain. In 1899, the lands of North-Western Rhodesia came under the control of the BSAK, and in 1900, North-Eastern Rhodesia. In 1911, these territories were united and received the name Northern Rhodesia. In the early 1920s, large copper deposits were discovered here. In 1923-24, the British government bought out administrative functions from the BSAC, after which it declared a protectorate over Northern Rhodesia. The development of the mining industry contributed to the influx of European settlers. The forcible transfer of Africans to the so-called reserves began, traditional system agriculture fell into disrepair. Otkhodnichestvo spread among the local population (the bulk were employed on farms and industrial enterprises owned by Europeans).

In the 1940s and 1950s, a movement for the independence of the country began. In 1946, the first political organization of the indigenous population of Northern Rhodesia, the Federation of Welfare Associations, was created. In 1948, on its basis, an African party was formed - the Congress of Northern Rhodesia (since 1951, the African National Congress of Northern Rhodesia; ANC), which demanded the mandatory representation of Africans in government, the introduction of universal suffrage on the principle of "one person - one vote". In 1952, the Congress of African Trade Unions of Northern Rhodesia was created. These political organizations opposed the British plan to unite Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Despite the resistance of the Africans, in 1953 Northern Rhodesia was included in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

In 1958, the National Congress of Zambia headed by K. D. Kaunda separated from the ANC (it was banned by the authorities in 1959). Instead of the National Congress of Zambia, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) was created, which led the national liberation movement, the struggle to eliminate the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. On March 29, 1963, the government of Northern Rhodesia received the official consent of Great Britain to withdraw from the Federation. The constitution was adopted. In January 1964, Northern Rhodesia became self-governing. In the same year, general elections were held for the Legislative Council, in which UNIP received a majority of votes. From its representatives, the first African government of Northern Rhodesia was formed, which was headed by Kaunda.

On October 24, 1964, the independent Republic of Zambia (named after the Zambezi River) was formed as part of the British Commonwealth of Nations (see Commonwealth). Kaunda became its president. The constitution entered into force, according to which the lands seized by the colonialists from the Africans became the property of the state, the reserves were abolished, and the multi-party system was fixed. In the same year, Zambia became a member of the UN, the OAU, the Non-Aligned Movement, and established diplomatic relations with the USSR.

In 1967, the National Council of UNIP approved the program document of the Humanism in Zambia party, developed by K. D. Kaunda, which set the task of building democratic socialism in Zambia, based on traditional African institutions of mutual assistance. In 1968, a new economic policy, the priority areas of which were the reduction of the share of foreign investment, the promotion of national entrepreneurship, the nationalization of the copper industry and other sectors of the economy. In December 1972, a one-party system of government was introduced in Zambia (the constitution of 1973 approved this principle).

In the 1970s, as a result of the decline in world copper prices, the value of Zambian exports fell sharply, the country's economy entered into a protracted crisis. Government measures to improve the situation did not bring visible results. Rising prices, unemployment, interruptions in the supply of basic foodstuffs have destabilized the situation in the country. In the late 1980s, massive protests against Kaunda began in Zambia. On November 30, 1990, under pressure from the opposition, a law on a multi-party system was adopted. In December of the same year, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) party was registered in Zambia, whose slogans were the democratization of the country, the fight against corruption, and the improvement of the living standards of the population. In the following months, 11 more parties were officially recognized. In the elections of 10/31/1991, the DMD won a majority of seats in parliament, and the leader of the DMD, F.J.T., became president of Zambia. Chiluba (born 1943), long time head of the Congress of Trade Unions of the country.

The victory of the opposition did not lead to an improvement in the domestic political situation. In March 1993, the government declared the activities of UNIP illegal and introduced a state of emergency for a period of 3 months. In May 1996, the parliament amended the country's constitution (adopted in 1991), according to which only persons who had Zambian parents and had lived in Zambia for at least 20 years could run for the presidency. K. D. Kaunda, the main political rival of F. J. T. Chiluba in the forthcoming elections, lost the opportunity to run for president (his father was a native of Malawi). UNIP and 6 other opposition parties boycotted the elections. On November 18, 1996, Chiluba was re-elected for a second term, and the DMD won 131 out of 150 seats in parliament.

The opposition, dissatisfied with the election results, filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court and tried to inspire mass protests. The political struggle culminated unsuccessful attempt coup d'état, undertaken on 10/28/1997 by the military. The government declared a state of emergency (maintained until February 1998), KD Kaunda was arrested. The actions of F.J.T. Chilubs were negatively received by the international community, the IMF and the World Bank suspended funding for most aid programs to Zambia (except for targeted ones).

On December 27, 2001, a candidate from the DMD, L.P. Mvanawasa (born 1948), was elected president of the country. He accused Chiluba and his entourage of misusing public funds. The opposition contested the results of the 2001 elections and demanded that the president be impeached. The struggle for deputy mandates in parliament continued. Gradually, Mwanawase managed to stabilize the situation, representatives of the opposition parties were included in the government. In 2003, as part of a constitutional reform, the rights of an advisory body, the House of Chiefs, were expanded. On September 28, 2006, Mwanawasa was re-elected President of Zambia. The DMD won a convincing victory in the parliamentary elections. The Mwanawasa government aims to implement programs of socio-economic transformation, the fight against poverty and corruption.

Lit.: The history of Zambia in the new and modern times. M., 1990; Sichone O., Chikulo B. Democracy in Zambia: challenges for the Third Republic. Harare, 1996; Chuvaeva M.A., Ksenofontova N.A. The Republic of Zambia: A Handbook. M., 1996; Prokopenko L. Ya. Zambia: features of the formation of a multi-party system (90s). M., 2000; Contemporary African Leaders. political portraits. M., 2001; Stock R. F. Africa south of the Sahara. L.; N.Y., 2004.

L. Ya. Prokopenko.

economy

Zambia is in the group of the least developed countries the world depends to a large extent on foreign aid(mainly from the US, EU countries, Japan, Canada), as well as from IMF assistance. The economy is export-oriented and dependent on world prices for copper (the country's main export product). Government policy is aimed at diversifying the economy, priority areas (2002) are manufacturing, agriculture, energy and foreign tourism (117 million dollars, about 500 thousand tourists; 2002). Since the end of the 20th century, there has been a process of privatization of state-owned companies. According to official data, by the beginning of the 2000s, 257 state and semi-state enterprises had been privatized; 56% of privatized companies are acquired by Zambian entrepreneurs.

The volume of GDP is 11.5 billion dollars (according to purchasing power parity; 2006), per capita - 1000 dollars. Real GDP growth 6% (2006). Human Development Index 0.394 (2003; 166th out of 177 countries). In the structure of GDP, the service sector accounts for 51.2%, industry - 28.9%, agriculture - 19.9%.

Industry. The basis of the economy is the extraction and processing of copper ore. The peak of production occurred in 1969 (720 thousand tons of refined copper), however, the fall in copper prices on the world market since the mid-1970s led to a decrease in production volumes (227.4 thousand tons in 2000) and export earnings. Growth in production (336.8 thousand tons in 2002; 600 thousand tons in 2006; number of jobs in the industry: 35 thousand in 2001; 48 thousand in 2004) and export of copper since the beginning of the 21st century is largely due to a new increase in world prices for the metal and high and stable demand for it from China. The main developed deposits of copper and copper-nickel ores are concentrated in the central part of Zambia, in the province of Copperbelt (Nchanga, Baluba, Konkola, Mufulira, Luanshya, Nkana, etc.); in the eastern part of the country, the Kansanshi field is being developed (since 2003); in the northwest by the Australian company Equinox Copper Ventures Ltd. construction is underway (2007; completion scheduled for 2009) of Africa's largest Lumwana mine. The leading companies are Konkola Copper Mines (51% of the shares are owned by the British Vedanta Resources, 28.4% by Zambia Copper Investments Ltd. and 20.6% by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-IH; over 200 thousand tons copper per year), "Mopani Copper Mines" (73.1% of the shares - the Swiss "Giencore International AG", 16.9% - "First Quantum Minerals Ltd." and 10% - "Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines IH"; about 175 thousand tons of copper per year) and "Luanshya Copper Mines" (85% of the shares - the Swiss "J&W Investment Group of Switzerland" and 15% - "Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines"; about 24 thousand tons of copper per year). The largest copper smelter is located in Kitwe (capacity up to 200 thousand tons of copper per year), other plants - in Mufulira, Ndola, Nchang, Luanshe. Export of copper over 450 thousand tons (2006). Copper is exported mainly through the ports of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Durban (South Africa). Zambia is the world's second largest producer of cobalt extracted from complex copper-cobalt ores (7.8 thousand tons in 2004; about 20% of world production); factories in Kitwe (over 2 thousand tons per year), Luanshe, Nchang. Pyrite is also mined (Nampundwe; 280 thousand tons in 2004), nickel (Munali), coal (280 thousand tons in 2004), gemstone raw materials (thousand kg, 2004): amethysts 1100, tourmalines 26, aquamarines 8, emeralds 2.1 , garnets, a small amount of diamonds, malachite.

Zambia fully covers its electricity needs from its own resources. Electricity generation 9.96 billion kWh, consumption 6.69 billion kWh, export 2.98 billion kWh (mainly to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe; 2004). Most of the electricity is generated at Kafue Gorge on the Kafue River, Kariba North and Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.

There is a refinery in Ndola (6.2 thousand tons of oil products in 2004; oil comes via an oil pipeline from Tanzania). Chemical enterprises (factories in Lusaka, Kitwe; production explosives in Mufulira, fertilizers and sulfuric acid in Kafue, Kitwe, glycerin in Ndola), metalworking (Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira, Luanshya), textile (Lusaka, Kafue), food, woodworking (Mulobezi), paper industry. On the basis of local raw materials (dolomite, limestone, gypsum, feldspar), glass (Kapiri-Mposhi) and cement (Chilanga, Ndola) plants operate. Auto assembly in Ndola (trucks of Toyota, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen brands), Lusaka, Livingston (cars). Tractor manufacturing in Livingston, bicycle factory in Mufulira.

Agriculture. Agriculture is inefficient, most food is imported. Subsistence farms predominate, there are few large plantation farms (mainly owned by Europeans). A small part (about 7%) of arable land is cultivated. In order to increase agricultural production and increase the level of food self-sufficiency, measures are being taken to increase the diversity of cultivated crops, create new agricultural zones, and combat droughts. In 2003-05, the harvest of corn, the main food crop, increased by 92.5% and amounted to 1,161 thousand tons. Horticulture is developing rapidly (fruit harvest 74 thousand tons in 2005). They also grow (collection, thousand tons; 2005): sugar cane 1800, cassava 950, wheat 135, sweet potato 53, peanut 42, millet 35, coffee 6.9, tobacco 4.8. Since the early 2000s, Zambia began to export tobacco, corn, cotton fiber, and fruits. Cattle breeding is limited due to the widespread occurrence of tropical diseases, in particular trypanosomiasis, transmitted through tsetse fly bites. Measures are being taken to reduce livestock mortality, serious attention is being paid to vaccination. Fishing (annual catch - about 70 thousand tons).

Transport. Length highways 91.4 thousand km, of which 20.1 thousand km are paved (2001). length railways 2173 km. The main railway lines are Ndola-Kabwe-Lusaka-Livingston and on to Zimbabwe and Ndola-Kapiri-Mposhi-Mpika-Nakonde and on to Tanzania. 10 airports have paved runways. International airports in Lusaka (strip length over 3 thousand m), Ndola, Livingston. The length of the waterways is 2250 km (including Lake Tanganyika, the Zambezi and Luapulu rivers). The main port is Mpulungu (on south coast Lake Tanganyika; cargo turnover is about 50 thousand tons per year). The length of oil pipelines is 771 km (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, - Idola, total length 1700 km; 2006).

Foreign economic relations. The value of merchandise exports is $3.9 billion, imports are $3.1 billion (2006). Main export items: copper (64% of the value), cobalt, electricity. Main trading partners: China, Japan, countries of Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, Switzerland, South Africa, Democratic Republic Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe. Machinery and equipment, oil products, fertilizers, foodstuffs, clothes are imported mainly from South Africa, Great Britain, Zimbabwe.

Lit .: Alexandrov Yu. A., Lipets Yu. G. Zambia. M., 1973; Chuvaeva M.A., Ksenofontova N.A. Zambia: A Handbook. M., 1996; Business Zambia: Economy and Relations with Russia. 1999-2002. M., 2003; Zambia - Malawi - Mozambique. Growth triangle. Nairobi, 2003.

N. V. Vinogradova.

Armed forces

The Armed Forces (AF) of Zambia number 15.1 thousand people (2006), consist of ground forces(SV) and the Air Force. There are also paramilitary formations (1.4 thousand people). Military annual budget $48.1 million (2005). The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces is the president of the country. The direct leadership of the Armed Forces is carried out by the Minister of Defense.

SV (13.5 thousand people) include 3 brigades, 3 regiments (tank, artillery, engineering) and 9 infantry battalions. The SV is armed with 60 tanks, 90 armored personnel carriers, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, about 240 field artillery guns, MLRS and mortars, 200 ZA and MANPADS installations. The Air Force (1.6 thousand people) includes aviation squadrons and air defense units. The Air Force is armed with about 100 aircraft and about 10 helicopters. various types. Armament and military equipment produced by China, the USSR, Great Britain and France. Completion for hire (men and women aged 18-25). The duration of the contract is 7 years. The training of command personnel and military specialists is carried out in military educational institutions of the country and abroad. Mobilization resources amount to 2.3 million people, including those fit for military service 1.2 million people.

Healthcare. Sport

In Zambia, there are 12 doctors, 174 nurses, 4 dentists, 10 pharmacists, and 27 midwives per 100,000 inhabitants (2004). General expenses for healthcare account for 5.4% of GDP (budget funding - 51.4%, private sector - 48.6%). The legal regulation of the health care system is carried out by the constitution; there are laws on the protection of the external and water environment (1993-2002), the National AIDS Policy (2002). The main causes of death are AIDS, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, tuberculosis (2004).

The National Olympic Committee was established and recognized by the IOC in 1964. Athletes from Zambia have been participating in the Olympic Games since 1964. The most popular sports are football, athletics, weightlifting, basketball, wrestling, field hockey, etc. The Zambian football team played twice in the African Cup final (1972 and 1994).

V.S. Nechaev (health).

Education. Scientific and cultural institutions

The education system includes pre-school education for children aged 3-6; compulsory free primary education - junior (grades 1-4) and senior (grades 5-7). In urban schools, all who have completed the junior level can continue their education at the senior level; examinations are held in rural schools for such a transition. The term of study in secondary school is 5 years: 2 years in junior and 3 years in senior secondary school. Vocational education is carried out within 2-5 years on the basis of elementary school and junior level high school in lower vocational schools and vocational schools. In 2004, 80% of students were enrolled in primary education, and 24% in secondary education. The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 was 68%. Higher education give the University of Zambia (1965), the National Institute of Public Administration (1963) and colleges - applied arts and commerce (1963), for the development of national resources (1964) - all in Lusaka; Copperbelt University (until 1987 a branch of the University of Zambia); Northern Technical College (1960) in Ndola; Zambian Agricultural College (1947) at Mansa; teacher training colleges in Kabwe, Kasama, Livingston and other cities. Among scientific institutions: Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (1926), Engineering Institute(1955), National Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (1967) - all in Lusaka; Central Institute of Fisheries (1965) in Chilang; Inter-African Institute for the Development of Eastern and Southern Africa (1979) in Kabwe; Tropical Disease Research Center (1976) at Ndola. Public Library in Ndola (1934), City Library in Lusaka (1943), etc. National museums: in Livingston (1934; natural history, archeology, ethnography, history of Zambia, African art, collection of personal belongings of D. Livingston) and Lusaka (1964 ); Railway Museum in Livingston (1972), Moto-Moto Museum in Mbale, Copperbelt Provincial Museum in Ndola (1962). Chimpanzee reserve in Chingola (1983) and others.

Lit.: Educating our future: national policy on education. Lusaka, 1996; Kelly M. J. The origins and development of education in Zambia: from pre-colonial times of 1996. Lusaka, 1999.

Mass media

Daily newspapers are published English language: government - "Zambia Daily Mail" (since 1960), "Times of Zambia" (since 1943), "Zambia Government Gazette"; independent "Post". The position of the church is reflected in the "National Mirror" (published 2 times a week). Monthly newspapers in African languages: Imbila (since 1953, in Bemba), Intanda (since 1958, in Tonga), Tsopano (since 1958, in Tonga), Liseli (in Lozi). Government news agency - Zambia News Agency (ZANA; since 1969). Broadcasting since 1939, television since 1961. The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (since 1958, current name since 1988) broadcasts television (in English) and radio programs (in English and African).

L. Ya. Prokopenko.

Literature

The literature of Zambia has been formed since the 2nd half of the 20th century on the basis of folklore traditions. It develops mainly in English, as well as in local languages. First literary works in the Bemba and Luba languages ​​were published in 1962 (collection of songs of praise by J. Chileya Chivale, collection of poems by J. Musapu Alamango). In the late 1960s, literary associations were created (the New Writers Group, the Creative Society of Mfala, etc.), which published magazines in local languages ​​with parallel text in English; in 1978 - Zambian National Writers Association. Since the 1970s, works in English have appeared, including the first novels: “Before Dawn” by A. Masiye (1970) - a chronicle of the life of a tribal village in the 1930s and 40s; "Language of a Fool" by D. Mulaysho (1971) about the confrontation between a tribal leader and a young fighter for independence; historical "Between two worlds" G. Sibale (1979). The novels of the 1970s, which describe the traditional way of life of the African community, are characterized by an educational orientation. In the 1980s, the Zambian Women Writers Association (ZAWWA) was founded; feminist themes are being developed in the literature. The literature of the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries raises the problem of the coexistence of traditional and new ways of life in African society, describes the complex socio-political processes taking place in Zambia (the novels Behind the Closed Door by S. Chitabantha, 1992; Arrows of Desire by B. Sinyangwe, 1993 , and etc.).

N. S. Frolova.

Visual arts and architecture

In the northern and eastern regions of Zambia, rock paintings and petroglyphs have been discovered, the earliest of which date back to the 4th millennium BC. Murals made with mineral paints (most often red, yellow, white, black) are schematic images of animals (elephants, antelopes, ostriches), people, hunting scenes, or simply colorful combinations of straight and curved lines. The most common type of folk dwelling is round huts with clay or wattle walls, with a conical reed roof, the overhang of which forms a veranda. Clay-smeared walls are decorated with multicolored stylized drawings. In the north (in the area of ​​the Luapula River), the huts are tightly grouped around the square with the leader's house. Several villages share a common stockade. In the south (Tonga Plateau), fenced estates of 2-3 huts are loosely scattered around the chief's estate, consisting of 10-15 huts. From the end of the 20th century, fences began to gradually disappear, villages received a regular layout, rectangular houses were built along the streets under a 4-pitched reed roof, with a veranda and glazed windows. The cities of Zambia that arose at the beginning of the 20th century (Lusaka, Livingston, Ndola, etc.) are relatively small, have wide streets and free low-rise buildings made of reinforced concrete and raw brick. A tourist complex was created near the Victoria Falls, the buildings of which are stylized as a folk dwelling (1975).

In the traditional fine arts wooden round sculpture predominates: mainly figures of people of highly elongated and distorted proportions, supporting the seats of chairs, benches, thrones; sometimes they are combined into dynamic compositions. Carved figures of people and animals are also decorated with various household items - spoons, headrests, combs, pestles for grinding tobacco, lids of oval bowls. Pottery is also widespread: molded clay vessels with scratched geometric ornaments, clay smoking pipes decorated with figures of people or animals (hippos, buffaloes, antelopes). Mats are woven from palm leaves and reeds, baskets with colored geometric ornaments, into which schematized images of animals and birds are woven. Jewelry is made from silver, copper, malachite, soapstone. Zambian professional art emerged in the 20th century; among the artists - the muralist R. Sililo, the painters G. Tayali, R. Sichalve, B. Kabamba, the sculptors P. Lombe, R. Kausu, B. Kalulu and others.

Lit.: Lusaka and its environs; a geographical study of a planned capital city in tropical Africa / Ed. G. J. Williams. Lusaka, 1986; Lorenz B., Plesner M. Traditional Zambian pottery. L., 1989.

V. L. Voronina.

Music

The earliest monuments musical culture on the territory of Zambia - iron bells of the 5th-7th centuries. A significant layer of professional oral culture is made up of ritual and various ceremonial songs and dances among the Bemba, Tonga, Lozi (royal drums are preserved), Lunda, among the Malawi peoples - Chewa (singing and dancing in zoo- and anthropomorphic masks) and Nsenga. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Western Christian church music spread; song styles were formed that mixed local and European elements. In the 1950s and 1980s, new musical instruments penetrated Zambia from neighboring central and southern African countries - dance genres- Jive, Macway and many others, spread American film music, jazz, soul, reggae, disco and other popular Western styles. After the declaration of independence, many groups performing traditional and modern Zambian music were organized in the country. Regular research into traditional music has been carried out since the beginning of the 20th century, and the activities of the Department of Arts and Culture, the Institute for African Studies (founded in 1937) at the University of Zambia in Lusaka are aimed at its preservation and development.