Overview
Zambia is a land-locked country ten times the size of Ireland with vast land and water resources. It has one of the world’s lowest population densities and shares borders with eight countries. Zambia played a leading role in Southern African politics especially under its first president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, one of the elder statesmen of independent Africa.
Zambia remains one of Africa’s poorest countries: ranked 146 out of 189 countries on the UN Human Development Index 2020 (Ireland ranked 5th) life expectancy is 62.4 years at birth. Almost two-thirds of the population live below the national poverty line of less than $2 dollar a day (compared with 41% across sub-Saharan Africa).
History
Zambia became independent from Great Britain in October 1964 and Dr Kenneth Kaunda, became its first President (1964 - 1991). During which time Zambia dropped from being one of the wealthiest to one of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa in Gross Domestic terms.
Zambia was declared a one-party state in 1972 until 1990 when multi-party politics was introduced. Presidential elections were held the following year and won by the opposition Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) under Dr. Frederick Chiluba. Dr Chiluba won re-election in 1996 and was succeeded by another MMD candidate in 2001, Levy Mwanawasa. Following his death in office in 2008, the subsequent by-election was won by Rupiah Banda, also from the MMD party.
The 2011 presidential elections in Zambia saw MMD lose to the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) under Michael Sata who was President for three years (2011 – 2014) and died in October 2014. A Presidential election was held in January 2015 and PF retained the presidency under Edgar Chagwa Lungu who then won re-election in 2016. In August 2021, Hakainde Hichilema and his United Party for National Development won the Presidential and General elections.
Tourism
Zambia is situated in the heart of the African continent, and while its tourism infrastructure is not as well developed as many of its neighbours, Zambia is nevertheless well-equipped to host tourists.
The country's prime attraction is the spectacular Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in Livingstone in Zambia’s Southern Province. Not only do the falls provide unmatched scenery as the water plunges into the depths of the gorge, but are also the setting for a multitude of adventure activities including white-water rafting and bungee jumping from the 364ft (111m) high bridge.
Zambia also offers dozens of national parks which are home to a profusion of birds and wildlife. Chief among the parks is South Luangwa National Park, centred on the most intact major river system in Africa, which hosts a huge concentration of wild animals. The legendary 'Zambian walking safari' originated in this park. Lovers of the outdoors cannot fail to find everything and more to satisfy them in the wetlands and wilderness of Zambia.
