ZAMBIA IS FREE BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU

ZAMBIA IS FREE

BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU

When Zambia’s first and democratically elected President,Dr Kenneth Kaunda wrote that poetic pre-colonial best selling literature: Zambia Shall be Free, he probably did not know that the Copper belt nations freedom did not lie in its mineral resources but what nature itself has provided.

For lying on its borders with Zimbabwe was the beautiful Victoria Falls, natures own majestic wonder which is now galvanizing an economy which is contributing millions of dollars to the Gross Domestic Product[GDP]of the nation formally called Northern Rhodesia,about 20 percent of its foreigh exchange earnings with the remainder coming from the industrial zones of Ndola,Kitwe,Chingola,Luanshya and Mufulira.

In a brochure now in the possession of Paedia Express Multimedia on Zambia’S Tourists potentials packaged by the Tourism Council of Zambia, the Zambian Tourism Board and its Ministry of Tourism and Arts,the Zambian Minister in charge of the sector, the Right Honorable Sylvia Masebo using the “Destination Zambia”campaign now on as a tripod pleaded with the rest of the world to come and enjoy the nation’s hospitality.

For a start, Zambia is a huge and under populated nation of about 14 million people inhabiting a land mass of around 750,000 square meters that in many respect is unexplored  even by tourists till this day.

Zambia is home to one of natures greatest wonders, Victoria falls, otherwise called Mosi-oa-Tunya as the strong tidal currents of the Zambezi River  sweeps across the slopes an drops at around 100 meters at up to 3,000 cubic meters per seconds as it flows strongly on its own path into the Indian ocean.   

Victoria Falls ,a UNESCO World heritage site is 2kilometer wide at his peak size and drops more than 100 meters at the rate of 550,000 cubic meters when in full flow.

Nearby ,Livingstone is regarded as the joint tourist capital of Africa alongside Cape Town in South Africa, no wonder the former now have a growing reputation as a destination for fun seekers via bungee jumping, leisure cruise, stream train excursion among others.

Starting from the falls and lining the banks of the Zambezi River on the Zambian side are series of luxurious properties for tourism stretching several kilometers.

In recognition of its growing status as a tourist center of note around the world, Livingstone was chosen alongside Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe as the joint host  of the 20^th General Assembly in 2013 of the United Nations World Tourism Organization[UNWTO].

The explorer David Livingstone on setting sights on the majestic wonder of Victoria Falls in 1855 declared :”by far the finest sight I have seen in Africa”

Until 1935,Livingstone was Zambia’s capital and its still retains many fine example of its colonial  style architecture, today it is the nation’s 4^th biggest city in terms of population.

Zambia also has about 19 National Game Parks,with the likes of South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Park,Kafue National Park standing out as Africa’s finest in terms of tourist infrastructures.

As the Zambian economy continues to power ahead ,so is the city of Lusaka ,judging from the smart malls ,new hotels ,restaurants  and the living standards of the average Zambian.

At its heart ,Lusaka, the nation’s capital has retained the structures set out by its colonial planners over 80 years ago, the railway lines that splits the city into two is another remainder of its colonial pasts.

Another great wonder in Zambia is the sweet looking waters of Lake Kariba,the world’s largest artificial lake and reservoir by water volume as it covers an area of 5,580square kilometers.

Lake Kariba is landlocked Zambia’s own inland ocean front  just outside of the capital, Lusaka,it offers  visitors the opportunity to enjoy waterborne activities such as boating, canoeing and fishing.

A Riviera town in mould of Monaco in France called Siavonga has since sprang up by its banks with several hotels ready to welcome the tourists.

The Wilderness of Kafue National Park with an area of 22,480 square kilometers is the second largest national park in Africa and the fourth largest park in the World.,it is the most diverse park in terms of diversity as far as ecosystems are concerned.