ABSTRACT
Zambia is located centrally in southern Africa and has boundaries with eight countries: Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi. The boundary with Botswana is only at a tripoint and that with Namibia is through the Caprivi Strip. Zambia was joined with Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland from 1953 until 1963 in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. By the 1950s, nationalism was growing and both Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland were unwilling to continue under the dominance of white-ruled Southern Rhodesia. On 24 October 1964, Northern Rhodesia became an independent republic within the Commonwealth, taking the name of Zambia, after the Zambezi River. Zambia became the sanctuary for numerous exiled groups and Lusaka became the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC). In efforts to lessen reliance on South African trade routes, Zambia was prominent in attempting the resurrection of the Benguela Railway through Angola and the Tanzam Railway to Dar es Salaam.
