Zambia Culture

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Zambia is a presidential republic with a multi-party system. The country is seen as one of the most politically-stable in Africa and is a member of the Commonwealth. After independence in 1964, Zambia was ruled for 27 years by Kenneth Kaunda. State President and head of government is currently Frederick Chiluba, Chairman of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). The legislature is the National Assembly, with the House of Chiefs as a consultational body. Chiefs are the traditional leaders of the 73 ethnic groups in Zambia, which is divided into nine provinces. The population consists of 73 ethnic groups, most of them Bantu. The most important include the Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga. Some three-quarters of the population are Christian, less than a quarter are Animists. There are also Islamic and Hindu minorities.

Each of the 73 ethnic groups has its own Chief, who has considerable authority and oversees law and order.

ost ethnic groups in Zambia are matrilinear. Traditionally, on marrying, a man moves to his wife's village. If he dies, then his widow and children do not inherit, but the sons of his sister. A man also has more responsibilities towards the children of his sister than towards his own. A result of this is that women have an appreciable say in political affairs, and they also have the responsibility for the children. However, outside traditional rural life, men frequently have a much more important role. Since their husbands usually do not provide for them, women often find themselves in financial difficulty.

The Zambian government has undertaken to introduce a programme which promotes the provisions of credits for women. Another part of the National Gender Policy is to encourage equality of schooling, and in particular to care for girls who leave school prematurely. In Zambia there is compulsory schooling, but more and more children have been missing school, especially since the reintroduction of school fees as part of the World Bank's structural adaptation programme.

Zambian society sees children as a gift of God, and they enjoy a privileged position with various laws for their protection. In April 2000, the country started a National Programme to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

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Zambia Tourism