US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Gordon L. STREEB
embassy:
corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka
mailing address:
P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone:
[260-1] 228-595, 228-601, 228-602, 228-603
FAX:
[260-1] 251-578
Flag:
green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and
orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
*Zambia, Economy
Overview:
The economy has been in decline for more than a decade with falling imports
and growing foreign debt. Economic difficulties stem from a chronically
depressed level of copper production and ineffective economic policies. In
1991 real GDP fell by 2% and in 1992 by 3% more. An annual population growth
of more than 3% has brought a decline in per capita GDP of 50% over the past
decade. A high inflation rate has also added to Zambia's economic woes in
recent years, as well as severe drought in the crop year 1991/92.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$550 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
170% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $665 million; expenditures $767 million, including capital
expenditures of $300 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
partners:
EC countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India
Imports:
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufactures
partners:
EC countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US
External debt:
$7.6 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -2% (1991); accounts for 50% of GDP
Electricity:
2,775,000 kW capacity; 12,000 million kWh produced, 1,400 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer
Agriculture:
accounts for 17% of GDP and 85% of labor force; crops - corn (food staple),
sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava;
cattle, goats, beef, eggs
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $4.8 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.8 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $533
million
Currency:
1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 178.5714 (August 1992), 61.7284 (1991),
28.9855 (1990), 12.9032 (1989), 8.2237 (1988), 8.8889 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Zambia, Communications
Railroads:
1,266 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double track
Highways:
36,370 km total; 6,500 km paved, 7,000 km crushed stone, gravel, or
stabilized soil; 22,870 km improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula Rivers, Lake Tanganyika
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,724 km
Ports:
Mpulungu (lake port)
Airports:
total:
116
usable:
104
with permanent-surface runways:
13
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
22
Telecommunications:
facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; high-capacity microwave
connects most larger towns and cities; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 5 FM, 9
TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT
*Zambia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,810,442; fit for military service 949,878 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 1% of GDP (1992 est.)
*Zimbabwe, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
390,580 km2
land area:
386,670 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
total 3,066 km, Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km,
Zambia 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement
Climate:
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in
east
Natural resources:
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium,
lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures:
12%
forest and woodland:
62%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
2,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare; deforestation; soil
erosion; air and water pollution
Note:
landlocked
*Zimbabwe, People