Republic of Zambia

Note: On November 14, 2008, President Rupiah Banda appointed Legal Affairs Minister George Kunda as vice president, while still allowing Kunda to retain his cabinet post. Banda reshuffled the cabinet the same day.

Political Status: Independent republic within the Commonwealth since October 24, 1964; under one-party, presidential-parliamentary system from 1972 to adoption of multiparty constitution on August 29, 1991.

Area: 290,584 sq. mi. (752,614 sq. km.).

Population: 9,885,591 (2000C); 12,115,000 (2007E).

Major Urban Center (2005E): LUSAKA (metropolitan area, 1,647,000).

Official Language: English.

Monetary Unit: Kwacha (official rate November 1, 2008: 4,470.00 kwachas = $1US).

President: (See headnote.) Rupiah BANDA (Movement for Multiparty Democracy); popularly elected in a by-election on October 30, 2008, to fill the unexpired five-year term of Levy Patrick MWANAWASA (Movement for Multiparty Democracy), who died on August ...