In many respects, Zambia is an African success story. From a
territory whose borders were drawn with minimal attention either to
the ethnic geography of the day or to natural features that
combined (and sometimes divided) dozens of distinct ethnic groups,
rose a nation with a long record of peace that has enjoyed decades
of constitutional rule, and even, in recent years, an increasingly
competitive democracy. Perhaps most improbably, the country has
forged a national identity. Unfortunately, peace,
constitutionalism, democracy, and nationhood constantly face
challenges, such as in the elections of 2006 when the ugly language
of ethnic confrontation found renewed currency. Moreover, Zambia's
economic record and prospects have been on the decline. After over
four decades, per capita incomes are lower than they were at the
dawn of independence, and 95 percent of its people live on less
that $2 per day. Despite repeated efforts to diversify the economy,
copper exports and foreign assistance are the main sources of the
vast majority of Zambia's foreign exchange earnings. And most
devastating at all, the AIDS pandemic has already lowered the
average life expectancy below 40. For a country one might regard as
"heading in the right direction," Zambia has a long way to go. The
third edition of Historical Dictionary of Zambia, through its
chronology, introductory essay, appendixes, map, bibliography, and
hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on important
persons, places, events, and institutions and significant
political, economic, social, and cultural aspects, provides an
important reference on this African country.
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