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New Zealand’s relations with Zambia are warm but quite thin. New Zealand is accredited to Zambia from its High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Zambia is accredited to New Zealand through its Embassy in Tokyo. Our primary source of contact is through multilateral institutions, primarily the UN and Commonwealth. Zambia supported Mr McKinnon’s candidacy for the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Mike Moore’s candidacy for the position of Director-General of the WTO.
Development assistance is an important aspect of the relationship. Zambia has previously expressed an interest in learning from New Zealand’s expertise in areas such as public sector reform and commercial agriculture development.
Bilateral trade is minimal. New Zealand exports to Zambia to June 2007 were worth NZ$915,018 (milk and cream). Imports totalled NZ$126,821 (mostly iron and vegetables).
NZAID has supported countries in Southern and East Africa as they work towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, increasingly in the context of African development initiatives such as The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). NZAID’s Africa Strategy for 2008 – 2017 will include Zambia as one of two priority countries to receive assistance under a revised southern Africa programme which will focus on child and maternal healthcare.
In addition, NZAID also contributes to various emergency appeals launched by multilateral orgsnisations in response to crises which sometimes include Zambia, as situations arise and resources allow.
The first European settlers arrived in Zambia in the 1880s. The British South Africa Company was formed to administer Northern Rhodesia, as the territory came to be known. In the 1920s the colonial office took over the administration. From 1953 to 1963 Northern Rhodesia was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. During this period the independence movement, led by Kenneth Kaunda, became active. The colonial authorities finally conceded that the federation would have to be dissolved, and in 1964 Zambia became an independent republic within the Commonwealth with Dr Kaunda as President.
After independence the governing United National Independence Party (UNIP) was the subject of continuing power struggles, primarily focused on personalities and tribal differences. As a result, Dr Kaunda established a one party state in 1972. However, conflicts continued within UNIP, and there were coups in 1980 and 1988.
Economic problems and worsening living conditions led to widespread popular discontent. Shaken by riots sparked by the rise in maize prices in June 1990, when over one thousand people were arrested, President Kaunda announced that he would return Zambia to multiparty democracy. On 31 October, 1991 Kaunda's 27-year rule ended. Former trade union leader Frederick Chiluba replaced Kaunda as President by winning 76% of the popular vote in the presidential elections. The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), led by Chiluba, defeated Kaunda's UNIP in the parliamentary elections. Chiluba went on to win a second presidential term in 1996.
In 1997 Chiluba imposed a state of emergency after an attempted military coup. Immediately following the attempted coup Kaunda was arrested and held in detention under emergency powers. He was held under house arrest until his release (negotiated by South Africa) in June 1998. Kaunda later resigned as UNIP president in 2000.
The 2001 presidential elections were won by MMD’s Levy Mwanawasa. MMD also retained control of parliament in the legislative elections. Allegations of electoral malpractice challenging the presidential result were filed but were ultimately unsuccessful. Mwanawasa was re-elected by a comfortable majority in September 2006.
Land Area - 752,610 sq km - 11.8 million (2006 EIU estimates) - Capital City – Lusaka - Language – English (about 70 indigenous languages used)
Political system - Unitary republic - National government - The president and his appointed cabinet - National legislature - National Assembly (150 members, elected by universal suffrage; all serve a five-year term) - Last election - September 2006 (presidential and legislative) - Next election due – September 2011 - Head of State/Government - President Levy Mwanawasa - Foreign Minister - Kabinga Pande
GDP - US$10.1 billion (EIU 2006 estimate) - Real GDP growth - 5.3% (EIU 2006 estimate) - Exports - US$3.958 billion (EIU 2007 estimate) - Imports - US$3.005 billion (EIU 2007 estimate) - Main exports – Metals, especially copper - Current account balance - US$74 billion (EIU 2007 estimate) - Inflation - 9%
New Zealand Trade (to year ended June 2007) - NZ Exports (FOB) - NZ$915,000 - Main Exports – Milk and cream - NZ Imports (CIF) - NZ$126,821 - Main Imports – Iron, steel; vegetablestop of page
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Zambia [external link].
