lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds,
gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: tropical storms (November to April)
Environment--current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain
in the mineral extraction and refining region; poaching seriously
threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents
human health risks
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 9,663,535 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 49% (male 2,381,937; female 2,355,807)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,308,715; female 2,379,994)
65 years and over: 2% (male 107,427; female 129,655) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.12% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 44.51 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 22.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.85 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 36.96 years
male: 36.72 years
female: 37.21 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
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
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.6%
female: 71.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
Data code: ZA
Government type: republic
Capital: Lusaka
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt,
Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence: 24 October 1964 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution: 2 August 1991
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional
council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991);
Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October
1991); Vice President Christon TEMBO (since NA December 1997);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
2001); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of
vote--Frederick CHILUBA 70%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12%, Humphrey MULEMBA 6%,
Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3%, others 5%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--MMD
130, NP 5, ZADECO 2, AZ 2, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the
president
Political parties and leaders: Agenda for Zambia or AZ
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMSIL, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
Flag description: green with a panel of three vertical bands of
red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on
the outer edge of the flag
Economy
Economy--overview: Despite progress in privatization and budgetary
reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Inflation, while
slowing somewhat, continues to be a major concern to the CHILUBA
government. Zambia's copper mining sector, which accounts for over
80% of the nation's foreign currency intake, is struggling.
Production rates are down as are world copper prices. Aid cuts by
Zambia's donors, arising out of concern for the November 1996 flawed
election, also have damaged Zambia's economic prospects. Urged by
the World Bank, Zambia has embarked on a privatization program which
is to include the all-important copper industry. Until a deal on the
copper sector is concluded, perhaps by mid-1999, economic prospects
will remain clouded.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$8.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$880 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 23%
industry: 40%
services: 37% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 86% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 31.3% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 43.9% (1996)
Labor force: 3.4 million
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining,
manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $888 million
expenditures: $835 million, including capital expenditures of $110
million (1995 est.)
Industries: copper mining and processing, construction,
foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1996)
Electricity--production: 7.84 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.51%
hydro: 99.49%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 6.393 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1.47 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 23 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower
seed, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats,
pigs, poultry, beef, pork, poultry meat, milk, eggs, hides
Exports: $905 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, tobacco
Exports--partners: Japan, South Africa, US, Saudi Arabia, India,
Thailand, Malaysia (1997)
Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer
Imports--partners: South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe
(1997)
Debt--external: $7.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $1.991 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1--1,428 (October
1998), 1,333.81 (1997), 1,203.71 (1996), 857.23 (1995), 669.37 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 80,900 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan
Africa
domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger
towns and cities
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 1,889,140
Television broadcast stations: 9 (1997)
Televisions: 215,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,164 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)
note: the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway
Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge
track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to
the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of Zambia Railways
Highways:
total: 39,700 km
paved: 7,265 km (including 60 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,435 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula rivers, Lake
Tanganyika
Pipelines: crude oil 1,724 km
Ports and harbors: Mpulungu
Airports: 112 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 100
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 66
under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, paramilitary forces, Police
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,102,167 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,113,174 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $76 million (1997)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.8% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zimbabwe is in disagreement
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for methaqualone, heroin, and
cocaine bound for Southern Africa and Europe; regional
money-laundering center
======================================================================
@Zimbabwe
--------
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 390,580 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa
225 km, Zambia 797 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November
to March)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high
veld); mountains in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel,
copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 57% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,930 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are
rare
Environment--current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land
degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd--once
the largest concentration of the species in the world--has been
significantly reduced by poaching
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography--note: landlocked
People
Population: 11,163,160 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 2,432,785; female 2,389,029)
15-64 years: 54% (male 2,986,531; female 3,059,186)
65 years and over: 3% (male 132,532; female 163,097) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 20.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South
Africa in search of better paid employment
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 61.21 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.86 years
male: 38.77 years
female: 38.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%),
white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%
Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs)
50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of
the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal
dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 85%
male: 90%
female: 80% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia
Data code: ZI
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Harare
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces and 2 cities* with
provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland
North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution: 21 December 1979
Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31
December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since
31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31
December 1987) and Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
House of Assembly
elections: president nominated by the House of Assembly for a
six-year term (if more than one nomination, an electoral college
consisting of members of the House of Assembly elects the
president); election last held 26-27 March 1996 (next to be held NA
March 2002); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
of electoral college vote--Robert Gabriel MUGABE 92.7%, Abel MUZOREWA
4.8%; Ndabaningi SITHOLE 2.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral parliament, called House of
Assembly (150 seats--120 elected by popular vote for six-year terms,
12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs
chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by provincial governors)
elections: last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--ZANU-PF 117, ZANU-Ndonga 2, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas McDONALD
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
Flag description: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow,
red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle
edged in black based on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is
superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
Economy
Economy--overview: The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety
of difficult economic problems as it struggles to consolidate
earlier progress in developing a market-oriented economy. Its
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for
example, has already drained hundreds of millions of dollars from
the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF suffers delays in
part because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals.
Inflation rose from an annual rate of 25% in January 1998 to 47% in
December and will almost certainly continue to increase in 1999. The
economy is being steadily weakened by AIDS; Zimbabwe has one of the
highest rates of infection in the world. Per capita GDP, which is
twice the average of the poorer sub-Saharan nations, will increase
little if any in the near-term, and Zimbabwe will suffer continued
frustrations in developing its agricultural and mineral resources.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$26.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.5% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 32%
services: 40% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25.5% (1990-91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 46.9% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: at least 45% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $279
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: mining (coal, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic
ores), copper, steel, nickel, tin, wood products, cement, chemicals,
fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1994)
Electricity--production: 8.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 71.76%
hydro: 28.24%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 10.769 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 1 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 2.27 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee,
sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, cotton (1997)
Exports--partners: South Africa 12%, UK 11%, Germany 8%, Japan 6%,
US 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other
manufactures 18%, chemicals 15%, fuels 10% (1997 est.)
Imports--partners: South Africa 37%, UK 7%, US 6%, Japan 6% (1997
est.)
Debt--external: $5 billion (1998)
Economic aid--recipient: $437.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1--39.3701 (January
1999), 21.4133 (1998), 11.8906 (1997), 9.9206 (1996), 8.6580 (1995),
8.1500 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June
Communications
Telephones: 301,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: system was once one of the best in Africa, but
now suffers from poor maintenance
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,
and radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0
Radios: 890,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 16 (1997)
Televisions: 280,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,759 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,759 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km
double track) (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 18,338 km
paved: 8,692 km
unpaved: 9,646 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers are used for transporting
chrome ore from Harare to Mozambique
Pipelines: petroleum products 212 km
Ports and harbors: Binga, Kariba
Airports: 467 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 18
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 449
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 220
under 914 m: 225 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary
Police)
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,738,963 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,707,348 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $427 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 4.6% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and
Zambia is in disagreement
Illicit drugs: significant transit point for African cannabis and
South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the
South African and European markets
======================================================================
Appendix A: Abbreviations