Zambia is a landlocked English-speaking country in Southeastern Africa. It borders Congo-Kinshasa to the north, Tanzania and Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. the city of Lusaka is the capital of Zambia. The country has a population of 20,216,029.
History
Originally, what is now Zambia was inhabited by the Khoisan tribes. In the 13th century, Bantu peoples began to migrate from modern day Cameroon, kicking out the Khoisan from the southern portion of Africa. Most of Zambia was ruled by the Mutapa Empire starting in the mid-15th century.
Starting in the 1600s, Portuguese explorers from Angola became the first Europeans to visit Zambia. The Portuguese Empire would continue to claim Zambia until the 19th century.
In 1855, David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer, became the first European to see the waterfalls along the Zambezi River. One of these waterfalls was named Victoria Falls, in honor of the then-reigning queen of the British Empire.
In 1888, Zambia came under the control of the British South Africa Company, led by Cecil Rhodes. The colony was named Rhodesia in his honor. Modern-day Zambia was known during this time as Northern Rhodesia.
In 1895, copper was discovered in the northwestern portion of Northern Rhodesia. The deposits were discovered by American scout Fredrick Burnham.
In 1924, the Rhodesia colony was divided into two colonies. The Zambezi River was declared to be the border between the colonies.
In 1964, Zambia became an independent country, with its prime minister, Kenneth Kaunda, as its first president. Kaunda’s presidency turned autocratic in 1973, when he banned all other political parties. The only legal party in Zambia with the United National Independence Party (UNIP), which was Kenneth Kaunda’s own political party.
In 1975, a railroad was built between Zambia and Tanzania. The railroad is known as TANZARA, and it was built by workers brought over from China.
After nearly 20 years of one party rule, Zambia became multiparty state in 1991. In that year’s election, Kaunda lost to Fredrick Chiluba.
In 2011, Michael Sata was elected president. but died in office in 2014. His vice president, Guy Scott, succeeded him. Scott was the first white head of state in Africa since South African president F. W. de Klerk left office in 1994.
Following the 2021 general election, Hakainde Hichilema was elected, defeating incumbent president Edgar Lungu. Hichilema has been the country’s president ever since.