Zambia, in southern Africa, is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safari areas. On its border with Zimbabwe is famed Victoria Falls – indigenously called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “Smoke That Thunders” – plunging a misty 108m into narrow Batoka Gorge. Spanning the Zambezi River just below the falls is Victoria Falls Bridge, a spectacular viewpoint. Zambia is a huge country, that is roughly three times the size of the UK or slightly larger than Texas/USA or slightly smaller in size than Chile. The country mostly lies on a high plateau with lots of hills and mountains. Zambia’s highest point is in the Mafinga Hills, with 2 301m or 7 549ft.
Key Cities
Key cities in Zambia include Lusaka, Kitwe, Chipata, Ndola, Kabwe, Chingola Livingstone, Kasama, and Luanshya.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
After Livingstone Zambia was left to go its own way for 35 years. It came under British rule in the years 1889 to 1901 due to the efforts of Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902). In 1889 Rhodes set up the British South African Company (SAC) to exploit minerals in southern and central Africa. Zambia’s contemporary culture is a blend of values, norms, material and spiritual traditions of more than 70 ethnically diverse people. Most of the tribes of Zambia moved into the area in a series of migratory waves a few centuries ago. Christianity is the official religion in Zambia according to the 1996 constitution, and the vast majority of Zambians i.e 96% are Christians of various denominations, but many other religious traditions are present.
Brief Country History
At the time of Christ, the inhabitants of Zambia were Bushmen, stone age hunters, and gatherers. They hunted antelope with bows and arrows. They also snared smaller animals and they collected fruits and nuts and gathered caterpillars and locusts. They lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle and made windbreaks from stones and branches, or if they were staying in one area for a season, they made huts of bent poles and thatched grass. In about the 4th AD century a new wave of Bantu speaking immigrants arrived from the north. They were farmers and they had iron tools and weapons. The farmers grew sorghum and beans as well as bananas and yams. They raised herds of cows and goats. They also did some hunting with iron-tipped arrows. The farmers also made pottery.
They lived in small villages of a dozen or so houses and each little village was more or less self-sufficient. The farmers made huts of poles and lathes arranged with a central enclosure where the cattle and goats were kept at night. The men were buried in this enclosure when they died.
The farmers practiced slash and burn agriculture. They moved on when they had exhausted the soil. The farmers seem to have lived peacefully alongside the bushmen for centuries.
In 2005 the G8 group of rich nations agreed to cancel Zambia’s national debt (with effect from January 2006). Furthermore, in the early 21st century the Zambian economy grew rapidly. Copper mining remained the most important industry in Zambia but there was also some mining of other metals such as silver, zinc, cobalt and lead. Zambia also has the potential for tourism with its national parks and the Victoria Falls. Zambia is still a poor country but it is developing rapidly.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
In addition to the English language, the government of Zambia also recognizes 7 official regional languages. These regional languages include Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Lunda, Kaonde, and Luvale.
Important Types of Commerce in Zambia
The GDP composition by sector of origin of Zambia includes the agriculture industry that accounts for 19.8% of the GDP, industry for 33.8% and services for 46.5%. Major industries of Zambia include copper mining and processing, construction, emerald mining, beverages, food, textiles, chemicals, fertilizer and horticulture.
Language Services US and others will provide working with Zambia
Mining and Agriculture is the main source of commerce for Zambia, it relies heavily upon high-tech machinery which is often only available abroad. Outsourcing production methods and trading with international manufacturers requires efficient communication between trading partners, wherever they may be. Professional language service providers can help to overcome language barriers that arise in this field of work and those closely related to it. A professional language service provider with knowledge of industry-specific terminology will help Zambia to achieve your goals within this global business.
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