FAX: [260] (211) 252-225
Flag description:
green field 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; green stands for the country's natural resources
and vegetation, red symbolizes the struggle for freedom, black the
people of Zambia, and orange the country's mineral wealth; the eagle
represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems
National anthem:
name: "Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)
lyrics/music: multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
note: adopted 1964; the melody, from the popular song "God Bless
Africa," is the same as that of Tanzania but with different lyrics;
the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem
Economy ::Zambia
Economy - overview:
Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with
real GDP growth in 2005-08 about 6% per year. Privatization of
government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relieved the government
from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly
improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability
and spur economic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since
2004, due to higher copper prices and foreign investment. In 2005,
Zambia qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor
Country Initiative, consisting of approximately USD 6 billion in
debt relief. Poverty remains a significant problem in Zambia,
despite a stronger economy. Declining world commodity prices and
demand slowed GDP growth in 2008, but a sharp rebound in copper
prices and a bumper maize crop helped Zambia recover. Lack of
economic diversity subjects Zambia to fluctuations in copper prices
and in the weather.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$18.72 billion (2009 est.)
$17.61 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.69 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
6.3% (2009 est.)
5.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
$1,400 (2009 est.)
$1,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 19.7%
industry: 33.7%
services: 46.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.524 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
50% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Population below poverty line:
86% (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 38.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 20
52.6 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Public debt:
24.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
25.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
13.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8.39% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 23
14.49% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22.06% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
19.06% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.234 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 132
$983.3 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$3.573 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$2.744 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.992 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$2.373 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 91
$2.346 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.186 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers,
tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle,
goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
Industries:
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate:
12.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - production:
9.752 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - consumption:
8.838 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - exports:
268 million kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
222 million kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
160 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - exports:
275 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Oil - imports:
14,730 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Current account balance:
-$99 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
-$174 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$6.463 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$4.203 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
Exports - partners:
China 21.37%, Saudi Arabia 8.93%, Democratic Republic of the Congo
8.55%, South Korea 8.32%, Egypt 8.08%, South Africa 6.96%, India 5%
(2009)
Imports:
$4.949 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$3.735 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products,
electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
South Africa 51.78%, UAE 7.7%, China 5.85%, Democratic Republic of
the Congo 4.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.287 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$1.892 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.495 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$3.091 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar - 4,823.6 (2010), 5,046.1 (2009),
3,512.9 (2008), 3,990.2 (2007), 3,601.5 (2006)
Communications ::Zambia
Telephones - main lines in use:
90,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.407 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
Telephone system:
general assessment: among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa
domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger
towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation
and network coverage is improving; domestic satellite system being
installed to improve telephone service in rural areas; Internet
service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT)
networks are operated by private firms
international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 3 owned by Zamtel
Broadcast media:
state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates
1 TV station and is the principal local-content provider; several
private TV stations are available; multi-channel subscription TV
services are obtainable; ZNBC operates 3 radio networks; about 2
dozen private radio stations also broadcasting; relays of at least 2
international broadcasters are accessible in Lusaka and Kitwe (2007)
Internet country code:
.zm
Internet hosts:
14,771 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 118
Internet users:
816,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 105
Transportation ::Zambia
Airports:
94 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 64
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 86
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 18 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 771 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,157 km
country comparison to the world: 71
narrow gauge: 2,157 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority
(TAZARA) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 91,440 km
country comparison to the world: 55
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)
Waterways:
2,250 km; (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula
rivers) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 40
Ports and terminals:
Mpulungu
Military ::Zambia
Military branches:
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Zambian Army, Zambian Air
Force, National Service (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for male and female voluntary military service
(16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Zambian
citizenship required; mandatory HIV testing upon enlistment;
mandatory retirement for officers at age 65 (Army, Air Force) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,824,372
females age 16-49: 2,685,883 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,401,481
females age 16-49: 1,274,583 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 151,586
female: 150,839 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Transnational Issues ::Zambia
Disputes - international:
in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and
Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto
recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia
boundary in the river
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 42,565 (Angola); 60,874 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo); 4,100 (Rwanda) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small
amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and
possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled
with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it
an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of
cannabis
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Zimbabwe (Africa)
Introduction ::Zimbabwe
Background:
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa
Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored
whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its
independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more
complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country
(then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising
finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe)
in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been
the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated
the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land
redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an exodus of
white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread
shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation,
MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his
reelection. The ruling ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidation to
win a two-thirds majority in the March 2005 parliamentary election,
allowing it to amend the constitution at will and recreate the
Senate, which had been abolished in the late 1980s. In April 2005,
Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban
rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the
homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the
opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls
on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store
shelves empty for months. General elections held in March 2008
contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the
ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of
seats in parliament. MDC opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the
most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win
outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008,
considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led
to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence
of vote tampering and ballot-box stuffing resulted in international
condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a
power-sharing government, in which MUGABE remained president and
TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February
2009, although the leaders have yet failed to agree upon many key
outstanding governmental issues.
Geography ::Zimbabwe
Location:
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 390,757 sq km
country comparison to the world: 60
land: 386,847 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: 8.24%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 91.43% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,740 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
20 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)
per capita: 324 cu m/yr (2002)
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; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste
and heavy metal pollution
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; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with
Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on
the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water
People ::Zimbabwe
Population:
11,651,858
country comparison to the world: 72
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.9% (male 2,523,119/female 2,473,928)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 2,666,928/female 3,283,474)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 194,360/female 250,820) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 18.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.954% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Birth rate:
31.57 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Death rate:
14.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Net migration rate:
12.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 6
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 30.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 72
male: 33.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.55 years
country comparison to the world: 219
male: 47.98 years
female: 47.11 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.66 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
140,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups:
African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%,
white less than 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: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2003)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 87
Government ::Zimbabwe
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Harare
geographic coordinates: 17 50 S, 31 03 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution:
21 December 1979
Legal system:
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
December 1987); Vice President John NKOMO (since December 2009) and
Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Morgan TSVANGIRAI (since 11
February 2009); Deputy Prime Minister Arthur MUTAMBARA
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and prime minister;
responsible to the House of Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper
signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each
province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term
limits); elections last held on 28 March 2008 followed by a run-off
on 27 June 2008 (next to be held in 2013); co-vice presidents drawn
from party leadership
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 85.5%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 9.3%, other
5.2%; note - first round voting results - Morgan TSVANGIRAI 47.9%,
Robert Gabriel MUGABE 43.2%, Simba MAKONI 8.3%, other 0.6%;
first-round round polls were deemed to be flawed suppressing
TSVANGIRAI's results; the 27 June 2008 run-off between MUGABE and
TSVANGIRAI was severely flawed and internationally condemned
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (93 seats - 60 members
elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 10 provincial
governors nominated by the president and the prime minister, 16
traditional chiefs elected by the Council of Chiefs, 2 seats held by
the president and deputy president of the Council of Chiefs, and 5
members appointed by the president) and a House of Assembly (210
seats - members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 March 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.6%,
ZANU-PF 45.8%, other 2.6%; seats by party - MDC 30, ZANU-PF 30;
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - MDC 51.3%, ZANU-PF
45.8%, other 2.9%; seats by party - MDC 109, ZANU-PF 97, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:
African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA]; Movement for
Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]; Movement for
Democratic Change - Mutambara or MDC-M [Arthur MUTAMBARA] (splinter
faction of the MDC); Peace Action is Freedom for All or PAFA; United
Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]; United People's Party or UPP [Daniel
SHUMBA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga
[Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or
ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]; Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or
ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]; Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance or ZIYA
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition; National Constitutional Assembly or
NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA [Jenny
WILLIAMS]; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU [Wellington
CHIBEBE]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,
UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Machivenyika MAPURANGA
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. RAY
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 through 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618
Flag description:
seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red,
yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black
with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing
the long history of the country is superimposed on a red
five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes
peace; green represents agriculture, yellow mineral wealth, red the
blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native
people
National anthem:
name: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language]
"Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of
Zimbabwe)
lyrics/music: Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
note: adopted 1994