Location: Zambia, a landlocked republic in south central Africa, takes its name from the River Zambezi, one of its biggest rivers. Originally known as Northern Rhodesia, it is separated from Zimbabwe by the Zambezi River. Kariba Dam, one of the biggest man-made dams in the world, is on the Zambezi River where it makes the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

History: Zambia, under the administration of the South Africa Company from 1889 to 1924, became independent republic within the Commonwealth republic on October 24, 1964. In the 1980s, decline in copper prices hurt the economy. June 1990 witnessed severe violence caused by food riots. One-party rule came to an end with October 1991 elections.

Agriculture: Maize, tobacco, millet, cassava, groundnuts, cotton and sugar are produced.

Minerals: The country is rich in minerals including copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, uranium and manganese. Although copper mining dominates Zambia's economy, the country made a major shift to agricultural production, as a result of the crippling fluctuations of copper prices in the world market.

President Chiluba reversed 27 years of command-economy socialism under Kaunda. Over 500,000 children had been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic by the late 1990s.

Mission in India:
High Commission of Zambia
C-79, Anand Niketan,
New Delhi - 110 021, India
Tel: 91 - 11 - 2410 1289, 2410 1292
Fax: 91 - 11 - 2410 1520
Email: zambiand@sify.com

Indian Mission in Zambia:
High Commission of India
1, Pandit Nehru Road
P.O. Box 32111, Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: 00 - 260 - 1 - 253159, 253066
Fax: 00 - 260 - 1 - 254118
Email: consular@India.zm