Zambia is a landlocked country that has a population of approximately
10,400,000, growing at about 2.9% and it has a surface area of 752,600
square km. It has a GDP of USD 3.6 billion (Y2001) and a GDP/capita
of USD 346 (Y2001). It ranks 153rd of 174 in the 2002 UNDP's Human
Development Index. HIV/AIDS prevalence is estimated to be around
20% of the adult population aged 15 to 49. Zambia’s economy
is dominated by three main factors: copper mining, external debt
and the weather (most agriculture depends on good rains). All three
are sources of vulnerability, but also of potential. Between 1975
and 1995 Zambia’s per capita income fell by 60%, and despite
positive growth in each of the past three years (unique in the past
three decades) it remains very low, at $US 330 in 2002.
Political situation
On 27 December 2001, tripartite presidential, legislative and municipal
elections took place. In the presidential elections, Mwanawasa from
the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy party (MMD) narrowly
won with just under 30% of the vote, whilst Mazoka from United Party
for National Development (UPND) received approximately 27% of votes
cast. With MMD winning 46% of the parliamentary vote, the opposition
gained a narrow majority in parliament, but is divided into a number
of factions. The largest opposition bloc is the UPND which received
just under a third of all votes.
Relations with the EU and regional organisations
The Commission, with a presence in Zambia since 1975, is considered
as a major partner and the Cotonou Partnership Agreement a significant
instrument. In line with Cotonou, good governance, human rights,
democracy and corruption have remained important issues in the dialogue
between the EU and Zambia.
Zambia holds membership in the SADC and COMESA regional organisations.
The COMESA Free Trade Area came into force in October 2000 and was
then celebrated by a Summit in Lusaka, which holds the seat of its
Secretariat. In 2000, Zambia also signed up to the SADC Trade Protocol
that provides the country with duty free access to the regional
market for specified products. Zambia is an active member of the
African Union.
Source: European Commission, External Relations, 2005
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IOM Zambia country overview
