Miscellaneous Information

The country is landlocked and sparsely populated by 42 language groups. All of these languages belong to the Bantu family of African languages. 

Zambia has some spectacular scenery, including the Victoria Falls along the Zambezi river, the Bangweulu Swamps and the Luangwa river valley.

The HIV AIDS virus is a major problem in Zambia. Many people have died or are affected by it including the many orphans that abound within Zambia. Pray that those churches that have been established will have the heart to take in the orphans whose extended family cannot care for them. 

Malaria is also a major problem as are other diseases.

Many Zambians live below the World Bank poverty threshold of $1 a day. Jobs are scarce. 

Economy

In the late 1960s it was the third largest copper miner, after the US and the Soviet Union. World copper prices collapsed in 1975 with devastating effects on the economy.

Government

Zambia switched from colonial government into an era of one-party rule that lasted 27 years under their first leader, Kenneth Kaunda. A multi-party system emerged in the early 1990s.

All though there is much influence of the Gospel in Zambia the church has requested much help in the area of Bible translation. Some of the 42 languages still do not have any scripture and translations that were done in the other languages more than 50 years ago are unusable today. Much has been learned in the art of Bible translation since the early translations. Moreover languages naturally change over time. 

Please pray for the Zambian church, that they would be free from the fear of witchcraft, turn completely to the Lord and be a light to surrounding nations.