ZAMBIA THE COUNTRY

Fancy a little history and geography lesson …. read on, if not skip and move onto the next blog entry.(Source:www.worldmapmaker.com )

The Flag (adopted 24 October 1964 and slightly modified in 1996) (source www.worldflags.com)

Flag : green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red(hoist side), black, and orange below below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag.

Meaning: the Green represents the country's vegetation and natural wealth.Red represents Zambia's struggle for independence.Black represents the people.Orange for the country's mineral wealth,especially copper.The eagle stands for freedom and is also the country's coat of arms.

History: The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an anticorruption investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable for USD 41 million. MWANAWASA was re-elected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his Vice-president Rupiah BANDA, who subsequently won a special presidential election in October 2008.

Area: total: 752,614 sq km land: 740,724 sq km water: 11,890 sq km - slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries: total: 5,664 km border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km

Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Population: 11,8 million

Nationality: noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian

Ethnic groups: African 99.5% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka, Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups), other 0.5% (includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans) (2000 Census)

Religions: Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Languages: English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languagesGovernment type: republic

Capital: name: Lusaka

Independence: 24 October 1964 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Currency:Kwacha (ZMK)

Exchange Rate: Zambian Kwacha per US dollar -4 682 (2009 est)