TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93CT1926> <link 90TT1764> <title> Zambia--History </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook Southern Africa Zambia </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> History </hdr> <body> Some ancestors of present-day Zambians probably arrived in the area about 2,000 years ago and eventually displaced or absorbed indigenous stone age hunters and gatherers. The major waves of Bantu-speaking immigrants began in the 15th century, with the greatest influx coming in the late 17th to the early 19th centuries. They came primarily from the Luba and Lunda tribes of southern Zaire and northern Angola but were joined in the 19th century by Ngoni peoples from the south. By the latter part of that century, the various peoples of Zambia were largely established in the areas they occupy today. Except for an occasional Portuguese explorer the area lay untouched by Europeans for centuries. After the mid-19th century, it was penetrated by Western explorers, missionaries, and traders. David Livingstone first saw Victoria Falls in 1855. In 1888, Cecil Rhodes, spearheading British commercial and political interests in central Africa, obtained a mineral rights concession from indigenous chiefs. In the same year, Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe) were proclaimed a British sphere of influence. Southern Rhodesia was annexed formally and granted self-government in 1923, and the administration of Northern Rhodesia was transferred to the British Colonial Office in 1924 as a protectorate. The two Rhodesias were joined in 1953 with Nyasaland (now Malawi) to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Northern Rhodesia was the center of much of the turmoil and crisis that characterized the federation in its last years. At the core of the controversy were insistent African demands for greater participation in government and the Europeans' fears for their future if government control was yielded to the Africans. A two-stage election held in October and December 1962 resulted in an African majority in the Legislative Council and an uneasy coalition between the two African nationalist parties. The council passed resolutions calling for Northern Rhodesia's secession from the federation and demanding full internal self-government under a new constitution and a new National Assembly based on a broader more democratic franchise. On December 31, 1963, the federation was dissolved. The nationalist demand for independence was achieved on October 24, 1964, when Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia. At independence, despite its considerable mineral wealth, Zambia faced major challenges. At home, it had a severe deficit of trained and educated Zambians capable of running the government and the economy and was largely dependent on expatriate expertise. Abroad, three of its neighbors remained under white-dominated rule in the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola, and in Southern Rhodesia, whose white government unilaterally declared independence in 1965. In addition, Zambia shared a border with South African-controlled Namibia. Zambia's sympathies lay with forces opposing colonial or white-dominated rule, particularly in Southern Rhodesia. In the next decade, it played a prominent role as an active supporter of such movements as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO). Conflicts with Rhodesia resulted in closure of Zambia's borders with that country and severe problems with international transport and power supply. Searching for alternatives, Zambia built the Kariba hydroelectric station on the Zambezi River with sufficient capacity to satisfy completely the country's requirements for electricity. With Chinese assistance, a railroad was constructed to the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam, reducing Zambian dependence on railroad lines south to South Africa and west through increasingly troubled Angola. By the mid- to late-1970s, Mozambique and Angola had attained independence from Portugal, while Zimbabwe had achieved independence in accordance with the 1979 Lancaster House agreement. Zambia's problems did not abate, however. Civil war in the former Portuguese colonies generated refugees and ensured continuing transportation problems. The Benguela Railroad west through Angola, for instance, was essentially closed to traffic from Zambia by the late 1970s. Zambia's strong support for the ANC (which has its external headquarters in Lusaka) created security problems as South Africa engaged in raids inside Zambia against ANC targets. In the mid-1970s the price of copper--Zambia's principal export--suffered a severe decline. Zambia turned to foreign and international lenders for relief; but as copper prices remained depressed, it had increasing difficulties in servicing its growing debt. By the late 1980s, Zambia had the highest debt/gross domestic product (GDP) ratio in Africa. Current Political Conditions The major figure in Zambian politics is President Kenneth Kaunda, who has wide popular support and traditionally has bridged the rivalries among the country's various regions and ethnic groups. Kaunda advocates government according to his philosophy of "humanism," which condemns human exploitation and stresses cooperation among the people but not at the expense of the individual. Zambia's sole political party--the United National Independence Party--was founded in 1959. UNIP has been in power under President Kaunda's direction since the country gained independence in 1964. Before 1972, Zambia had three significant political parties--UNIP, the ANC, and the United Progressive Party (UPP). The ANC drew its strength from western and southern provinces, while the UPP found some support among Bemba-speakers in the copperbelt and northern provinces. Although not strongly supported in all areas of the country, only UNIP had a nationwide following. After extensive consultations by a national commission throughout Zambia, President Kaunda announced in February 1972 that Zambia would become a one-party state and that all other political parties were banned. The first elections under a new constitution defining Zambia as a one-party state were held in 1973, and President Kaunda, the sole candidate, was elected. Elections also were held for the National Assembly. Only UNIP members were permitted to run, but these seats were contested sharply. In accordance with the constitution, which calls for national elections every 5 years, President Kaunda's mandate was renewed in December 1978 and October 1983. Although President Kaunda was the sole candidate, the electorate had a choice of voting "yes" or "no" on his candidacy. In the 1983 election, more than 60% of those registered gave President Kaunda a 93% "yes" vote. Even though Zambia is a one-party state, political life is vigorous. Various political tendencies seek expression in the parliamentary elections, and members of the National Assembly question government policies and actions. The press enjoys a fair amount of freedom to comment on and to criticize government policies and personalities, President Kaunda excepted. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, August 1988. </body> </article> </text>