Zambia has Moved From Being A Major Copper Producer and potentially one of the continents’ richest countries at Independence in 1964 to one of the world’s poorest.
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Zambia has moved from being a major copper producer and potentially one of the continent’s richest countries at independence in 1964 to one of the world’s poorest.A colonial legacy, mismanagement, debt and disease are said to have contributed to the country’s tribulations.
Politically, it switched from colonial government into an era of one-party rule lasting 27 years. A multi-party system emerged in the early 1990s.
Zambia is landlocked and sparsely populated by more than 70 ethnic groups, many of them Bantu-speaking. It has some spectacular scenery, including the Victoria Falls along the Zambezi river, the Bangweulu Swamps and the Luangwa river valley.
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AT-A-GLANCE
Politics: President Mwanawasa won a second term in 2006, months after suffering a minor stroke
Economy: Improved copper prices and investment in mining have improved prospects for export earnings
International: Thousands of refugees from the Angolan civil war have yet to return home
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In the late 1960s it was the third largest copper miner, after the US and the Soviet Union. World copper prices collapsed in 1975 with devastating effects on the economy.
The World Bank has urged Zambia to develop other sources of revenue – including tourism and agriculture. Even so, copper accounts for most of Zambia’s foreign earnings and there is optimism about the future of the industry, which was privatised in the 1990s. Electronics manufacturers have fuelled demand and investment in mines has grown.
Aids is blamed for decimating the cream of Zambian professionals – including engineers and politicians – and malaria is a major problem. Millions of Zambians live below the World Bank poverty threshold of $1 a day.
Zambia hosts tens of thousands of refugees who have fled fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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February 10, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I have always wondered how this ‘collapse’ in world copper prices in 1975 generated two different outcomes in Chile and Zambia. In the former there was increased investment in copper mining so as to become the number one producer in the world( currently producing 5m tonnes). In the case of the latter…everything went southwards. Honestly, Zambia’s problems are due to poor management.
February 10, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Thanks Mbulawa,
Two many thieves in the Zambian leadership, Corruptions name them. Zambia is very rich in minerals, I worked for ZCCM, and I saw how top management and government reaped off the mines.
If we choose good leaders in office, may be things will change.
Just to let you know my team and I at Zambian Chronicle have compiled names and qualifications of all aspiring candidates for president. We want to do an open forum debate on each and every candidate before 2011. At least we all need to know in and out the candidates that we vote for. One more addition is Castro Chiluba who has entered politics. I would not be supprise if he stands for president.
This week we will look at Micheal Sata Vs Mbikusita Lewanika for president.
we have their back ground and Qualifications.
Please invite your fellow Zambian friends to take part.
We all do not need supprises in 2011.
Thanks a trillion
Belliah