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Country Assessment: Africa

The Country 

Located in south-central Africa, Zambia is a landlocked country surrounded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania to the north; Zimbabwe, Botswana, and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia to the south; Malawi to the east; and Angola to the west. It has an area of approximately 753,000 square kilometers and a population of about 10 million, for a total population density of approximately 13 persons per square kilometer. Most of Zambia is high plateau with a flat or gently undulating terrain. Elevations average 1,000 meters to 1,400 meters; mountains in the northeast exceed 2,000 meters. This high elevation makes for a subtropical climate, and average temperatures range from 17°C in July to 22°C in January. 

Zambia is divided into nine provinces. Its capital and largest city is Lusaka, which is also a province. Lusaka has a population of almost 1.3 million, with population densities of up to 1,500 persons per hectare and an average population density of approximately 150 persons per hectare. 

Zambia gained its independence from Britain in 1964. It is today one of the most industrialized countries in Africa, renowned for its copper ore resources, which are processed in the country and whose export made Zambia relatively rich during the 1960s and early 1970s. However, nationalization of the copper mines, years of under-investment in the mines, inexperienced management, and a fall in the world price of copper led to an economic decline beginning in the mid-1970s. Extensive borrowing has made Zambia one of the most highly indebted nations in the world relative to national output and exports, and in 1990, it was classified as a low-income country. Even though most of the mines have since been divested and private investment in the mines is ongoing, the country remains impoverished, with a per capita GDP of approximately US$410. Table 1 summarizes basic data on Zambia and Lusaka. 

Table 1. Country and Capital Basic Facts

Urbanization 

Zambia is the third most highly urbanized country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Of its total population, over 40 percent is estimated to live in urban areas. The country has eight major towns with populations in excess of 150,000; most of these are in the Copperbelt province. 

During the 1960s and 1970s, the production and export of copper led to an expansion of the urban economy. Zambia experienced high levels of rural-urban migration, as citizens sought to benefit from urban-based employment opportunities and subsidized food and infrastructure. Lusaka wasand continues to bethe main destination for rural migrants, closely followed by the Copperbelt province. The remaining provinces are largely agriculture-oriented and do not attract large numbers of migrants. A relatively new immigration phenomenon is the influx of refugees from neighboring countries which have experienced or are experiencing conflict. 

Zambia’s economic decline has eroded many of the benefits of urban living. Recent poverty assessment reports estimate that almost 80 percent of the urban population lives below the poverty line. Poverty and HIV/AIDS have led to decreased urban growth rates in recent years of between 5 and 6 percent. 

The city of Lusaka covers an area of 360 square kilometers (the total municipal area is approximately 423 square kilometers). Much of this area is underutilized, and over 20 square kilometers have not yet been urbanized. There is thus room for expansion. About 70 percent of Lusaka’s population lives in poor, unplanned settlements comprising 20 percent of the city’s residential land.

Full Report : Upgrading of Low Income Settlements Country Assessment Report: Zambia  

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