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Country Guide > Africa > Zambia | |
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General Information Area 752,614 sq km (290,586 sq miles).
Population 10,698,000 (UN estimate 2002). Population Density 14.2 per sq km. Capital Lusaka. Population: 1,640,000 (official estimate 2000). Geography Zambia is a vast plateau bordered by Angola to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia to the southwest. The Zambezi River together with Lake Kariba forms the frontier with Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls, at the southern end of the manmade Lake Kariba, is one of the most spectacular sights in Africa (if not the world). In the east and northeast, the country rises to a plateau 1200m (3937ft) high, covered by deciduous savannah, small trees, grassy plains or marshland. The magnificent Luangwa and Kafue National Parks have some of the most prolific animal populations in Africa. Government Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1964. Head of State and Government: President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa since 2002. Language English is the official language, but there are over 73 local dialects. The main languages are Bemba, Kaonde, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja and Tonga. Religion Around 30 per cent of the population is Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic), a smaller number are Muslim and Hindu, and a small minority have traditional animist beliefs. Time GMT + 2. Electricity 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 260. Outgoing international code: 00. There are public telephones and most calls are made through a post office. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network. Operators include Celtel (website: www.msi-cellular.com), Telecel (website: www.telecel.co.zm) and Zamtell (website: www.zamtel.zn). Coverage is limited to some areas around Lusaka and near the coast. Internet ISPs include Coppernet (website: www.coppernet.zm), Zamnet (website: www.zamnet.zm) and Zamtel (website: www.zamtel.zm). E-mail can be accessed from Internet cafes in Livingstone and Lusaka. Fax/telegram There are public fax facilities at the central post office in Lusaka and at principal hotels. Telegrams may be sent from telegraph offices in main centres, open Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1300 (closed Sunday and public holidays). Post Airmail to Western Europe takes 7 to 14 days. Press National Mirror, The Sportsman, The Sun , Sunday Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail are published in English. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
