apital:
name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,
Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Independence:
24 October 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Constitution:
24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term
limits

Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);
Vice President Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 September 2006
(next to be held 2011); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Levy MWANAWASA reelected president; percent of
vote - Levy MWANAWASA 43.0%, Michael SATA 29.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA
25.3%, Godfrey MIYANDA 1.6%, Winright NGONDO 0.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by
popular vote, eight members are appointed by the president, to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not
determined 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by
the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil
and criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders:
Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for
Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or
HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger
CHONGWE, president]; Movement