Zambia and Zambian News

Country Profile
Zambia officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. 
Zambia is divided into 9 Provinces each administered by an appointed Deputy Minister. Each Province is subdivided into several Districts with a grand total of 72 districts .

About 68% of Zambians live below the recognised National Poverty Line with rural poverty rates standing at about 78%and urban rates of 53%.
Literacy Rate is 81% (86.8% male and 74.8% female)

On 24 Oct 24, 1964, the country declared independence from the U K and the then PM Kenneth Kaunda  became the 1st President of Zambia and was in office of President during Oct 24,1964 to Nov 2,1991
Kenneth Kaunda's Socialist United National Independence Party(UNIP) maintained power from the 1964 until 1991. From 1972 to 1991 Zambia was a Single Party State with the UNIP as the sole-legal political party, with the goal of uniting the nation under the banner of 'One Zambia, One Nation'.
Capital                                 Lusaka
Currency                             Zambian Kwacha
Population                          14 Million ( 2011 Estimate )
Religion                              87% of the population are Christians
Official Language                English



History
North-Eastern Rhodesia and North-Western Rhodesia were administered as separate units until 1911 when they were merged to form the British Colony of Northern Rhodesia.
In 1923, the British South Africa Company (BSA)ceded control of Northern Rhodesia to the British Government after the government decided not to renew the Company's charter.
In 1923 Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)a conquered territory which was also administered by the BSA Company, became a self-governing British Dominion.
 In 1924, after negotiations, administration of Northern Rhodesia transferred to the British Colonial Office.
 In 1953, the creation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland grouped together Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland(now Malawi) as a single semi-autonomous region.
A two-stage election held in Oct and Dec 1962 resulted in an African majority in the legislative council and an uneasy coalition between the two African nationalist parties - ANC and UNIP. 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. The federation was dissolved on 31 December 1963, and in January 1964, Kaunda won the first and only election for Prime Minister of Northern Rhodesia .
Northern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zambia on 24 October 1964, with Kenneth Kaunda as the first President.


Government
Zambia is a Presidential Representative Democratic Republic where the President of Zambia is both the Head of State and Head of Govt.The government exercises executive power, while legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.


National Assembly of Zambia

The Unicameral National Assembly of Zambia is the Legislative Body with 158 Members,of which 150 Members are directly elected for a 5year term and the remaining 8 Members are filled by Presidential appointment.

Presidents of Zambia                                        

S.No	Name	Party	Tenure
1	Kenneth Kaunda	UNIP	Oct 24,1964 to Nov 2,1991
2	Frederick chiluba	MMD	Nov 2,1991to Jan 2,2002
3	Levy Patrick Mwanawasa	MMD	Jan 2,2002 to Aug 19,2008
4	Rupiah Bwezani Banda – Acting President	MMD	Aug 19,2008 to Nov 2,2008
5	Rupiah Bwezani Banda	MMD	Nov 2,2008 to Sep 23,2011
6	Michael Sata	PF	Sep 23,2011 to Present

2011 Zambian General Election - Sep 20,2011
Incumbent President Rupiah Bwezani Banda(Movement for Multi-Party Democracy-MMD); Michael Sata(Patriotic Front-PF) and Hakainde Hichilema (United Party For National Development-UPND)were the Presidential Candidates.
Michael Sata(Patriotic Front-PF)won the election securing 42% of Votes
Rupiah Bwezani Banda(Movement for MultiParty Democracy-MMD)secured only 35% Votes and
Hakainde Hichilema (United Party For National Development-UPND) secured only 18% Votes

2011 National Assembly of Zambia Elections - Sep 20,2011 
The current National Assembly was formed following elections held on Sep 20, 2011, has a total of 156 members (2 pending bye-elections). 150 members are directly elected in single-member constituencies  using the simple majority system.The remaining 8 seats are filledby Presidential appointment.

Patriotic Front(PF)secured 38% Votes and got 60 seats
Movement for MultiParty Democracy secured 34% Votes and got 55 seats
United Party For National Development(UPND) secured 17% Votes and got 28 seats
Independents secured 8% Votes and got 3 seats and
Others secured  25 Votes and got 2 seats
2 Seats are Vacant