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Country Profile: Zambia
Fact FileCapitalLusakaOfficial languageEnglishRecognised regional languagesNyanja, Bemba, Lunda, Tonga, Nkoya, Lozi, Luvale, Kaonde, and about 65 other indigenous languages. AreaTotal 752,618 km2Population11,668,000 (2009 est)CurrencyZambian Kwacha |
Overview
Zambia, or officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west.
Dialects and Languages
In Zambia, English is the official language, this is used in business and in schools, however there are also a large number of indigenous languages which are commonly spoken in Zambia, including, Ambo, Aushi, Bemba, Bisa, Chikunda, Cishinga, Cokwe, Gova, Ila, Inamwanga, Iwa, Kabende, Kaonde, Kosa, Kunda, Kwandi, Kwandu, Kwangwa, Lala, Lamba, Lenje, Leya, Lima, Liyuwa, Lozi, Luano, Lucazi, Lumbu, Lunda, Lundwe, Lungu, Luunda, Luvale, Makoma, Mambwe, Mashasha, Mashi, Mbowe, Mbukushu, Mbumi, Mbunda, Mbwela, Mukulu, Mulonga, Ndembu, Ng'umbo, Nkoya, Nsenga, Nyanja, Nyengo, Nyiha, Sala, Seba, Senga, Shanjo, Shila, Simaa, Soli, Subiya, Swaka, Tabwa, Tambo, Toka, Tonga, Totela, Tumbuka, Twa, Unga, Wandya and Yombe.
Since there has been intense urbanization in Zambia, many of these languages often get assimilated into each other and create slangs. English is the most common language spoken at home and for official use as well. Foreign peoples have also influenced the language culture as well, languages like Bemba, Kaonde, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja and Tonga come from other country explorers as an example.
Business and Economics
In recent years foreign investment, especially by the U.K. and other European Nations, has allowed Zambia to revitalize its copper industry and bring it back to the product level that it was in the past. This has had tremendous effects on the Zambian economy and has dramatically boosted the nation's GDP. The Zambian government is pursuing an economic diversification programme to reduce the economy's reliance on the copper industry. This initiative seeks to exploit other components of Zambia's rich resource base by promoting agriculture, tourism, gemstone mining, and hydro-power. Zambia has also begun research to develop wind, solar and hydroenergy resources.
Culture
Zambia has its own unique Bantu culture and mixed European culture. People used to live in secluded villages, but now since there has been intense urbanization, people are living all together and assimilating their cultures into one. Different groups of ethnic peoples have begun living in very tight communes and this has blended their culture togther even more in recent years.
Future Outlook
Zambia looks to continue to grow based on its agricultural strengths, and it has been able to expand over recent years. The government has enacted reforms and policies to further stimulate business and industry within the nation. This has been done with particular emphasis on such industries as agriculture, textiles, finance and tourism. Zambia has also become an African leader in renewable energy research, particularly in wind, solar and hydroelectric.
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