Republic of Zambia

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); 12,152,000 (2008E).

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

Official Language: English.

Monetary Unit: Kwacha (official rate December 1, 2009: 4,680.00 kwachas = $1US).

President: 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 19; inaugurated on November 2.

Vice President: George KUNDA ((Movement for Multiparty Democracy); appointed by the president on November 14, 2008.

The Country

Landlocked Zambia, the former British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia, is bordered by the Democratic ...