Introducing… ZAMBIA!!!

After scouring my welcome book, I thought I would share a few facts with you all so that you may become more familiar with the country that will be my home for the upcoming 27 months. Here we go!

Peace Corps in Zambia:

The first volunteers were sent to Zambia in 1994. Since then, approximately 700 volunteers have served in this country, making this PC program one of the largest in all of Africa. There are currently 4 PC projects in Zambia. Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP), Rural Education Development (RED), Linking Income, Food and the Environment (LIFE), and a newer health project (that’s what I’ll be doing!).

History:

Zambia was discovered by Europeans in the mid 19th century. In 1855, David Livingston was the first European to see the falls on the Zambezi River (among the largest in the world) and named them Victoria Falls after the queen. Locally, these falls are known as Mosi-oa-Tunya or the “smoke that thunders.” The country’s previous name was Northern Rhodesia (southern half was Zimbabwe) and independence from Britain was granted in October of 1964. Since then, there have been just 4 presidents, the current on being Rupiah Banda.

Geography and Climate:

The country is named after the Zambezi River and is surrounded by Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zaire and Zimbabwe. There are 9 provinces and 72 districts in this country that is about the size of Texas. Much of the country lies on a plateau with an average elevation of about 3500-4500 feet (very similar to the elevation of North Carolina’s mountains!). The higher elevation is supposed to temper the humidity, so hopefully my hair won’t be a completely frizzy mess! There are 3 distinct seasons in Zambia. November – April is warm and wet, May – August is cool and dry, and September – October is hot and dry. The distinct seasons allow for cultivation of a wide range of crops, so hopefully I will be able to have a little garden, as I have read about other volunteers who have done so.

The People:

Zambia is one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most highly urbanized countries with half of its 11 million people concentrated in a few urban zones. There are 73 ethno-linguistic groups. English is the official language, but it is common to find people in rural areas that do not speak English (I will be trained in one of the local languages!). Most Zambians are Christians of varying denominations. Half of the population is less than 15 year old and life expectancy 36 years (one of the world’s lowest). Zambia has one of the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. An estimated 950,000 adults and 70,000 children are infected.

Economy:

Copper mining is the # 1 income generator for the country and corn is the principle cash crop (and staple). The currency is the Kwatcha (about 5,200 Kwatcha per US dollar). Unemployment is high and per capita income is about $1,000 (relatively low compared to other African countries).

Wildlife and Outdoor Fun:

In researching Zambia, I have noticed that many have dubbed it the “real Africa” because the country’s description evokes images of Safaris and herds of Lion King-like roaming animals. Zambia has 19 national parks and 34 game management areas. Wildlife includes leopards, lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, wild dogs, elephants, hippos, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, various primates, antelope, reptiles, and over 700 bird species. There are opportunities for Safaris, river rafting, fishing, bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, and a host of many other outdoor African adventures! I will accrue vacation time for each month worked, so hopefully I will have the chance to explore after I settle in at my post.

I feel like I just completed a middle school social studies project! Hope you found it informative. Too bad this wasn’t in a classroom setting where I would have definitely brought in my attempt at making some type of customary Zambian food for everyone to try : )