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Zambia -
(Africa)
(Print)
Information about Zambia
Capital |
Lusaka |
Area |
752614 square kilometres |
Population |
9443000 |
Religions |
Christian 72% (Roman Catholic 42%, Jehovas Witnesses 21%, Prot 15%, African Independent 14%, Angl 2%, Neo-Apostolic 2%, others 4%), African rel 27%, Hindu and Muslim 1% |
Christian (%) |
72.00 |
Protestant (%) |
15.00 |
Reformed (%) |
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For a long period (1870-1924), Zambia, formerly Northern Rhodesia, was governed on behalf of the British Crown by the British South Africa Company of Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902). In 1924 the country became a British Protectorate; under the leadership of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) of Kenneth D. Kaunda, it gained independence in 1964. During the next 27 years it was ruled by UNIP, the state party. The official doctrine was Zambian humanism with three roots —traditional African beliefs, Christianity, and Socialism. In 1991 the Movement for Multiparty Democracy of Frederick Chiluba won the election. Despite its rich resources (copper, agriculture) Zambia is one of the poorest countries of the world. A relatively high percentage of the population lives in the cities, especially Lusaka.
Christianity reached Zambia toward the end of the 19th century. The first Christian missions were the Paris Mission (1877) and the LMS (1883). They were followed by the Presb (1894), the Primitive Methodists (1894), the White Fathers (1895), and the Dutch Reformed mission from South Africa (1899). A number of other churches started work in the 20th century — in particular, the Wesleyan Methodists, the Advent, the Salvation Army, the Brethren, the Church of Christ, and the Angl. The Watchtower Movement, which started in 1911, found a particularly favorable response in the population; while it had, in the beginning, a specifically African character, it is today firmly part of the international organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Churches
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