Zambia

A young nation that achieved political independence in 1964, Zambia is proud of its reputation as a peaceful and democratic society. Zambia is situated in the centre of the southern half of the continent, with a surface area of about 750,000 square kilometers, mostly on a plateau about 1200 m above sea level.

The climate includes both temperate and sub-tropical ecosystems. During the winter months of May to August the weather in Lusaka is generally cool and dry, with temperatures ranging from 16 to 27 Celsius (60-81 Fahrenheit), warmer in the middle of the day than at night and towards the end of the period when it is proposed to hold the congress.

The population of about 11 million is predominantly composed of indigenous Africans, speaking a variety of Bantu languages, of which Nyanja, Bemba, Tonga and Lozi are the most widely spoken, alongside English, which is the principal medium of communication in all official domains, including the daily press, most radio and television broadcasting, parliamentary debates, higher law courts, civil service administration, and the formal sectors of commerce and industry, as well as all tertiary and secondary education and the upper grades of basic education.

Other small sections of the population (less than two percent each) are of European or Indian origin or of mixed ethnic heritage, and are generally well integrated into the life of the society. In contrast with its 50-year history of colonial oppression and racial segregation as part of the British empire, Zambia has from the beginning of its existence as a sovereign state espoused a public policy of racial equality, tolerance and integration. Visitors to Lusaka will find a cosmopolitan society, which is both accustomed to the presence of foreigners from many parts of the world and generally welcoming of them. The Republic of Zambia and the University of Zambia will be pleased to make the Congress available to all ‘without let or hindrance’ in accordance with the principles of the free Movement of Scientists of the International Council of Scientific Unions.

The Zambian economy is currently emerging from a period of prolonged, deep depression, and material poverty is still widespread. However, encouraging signs of economic recovery over the past few years include massive cancellation of the crippling international debt accumulated in the 1990s, reduction of the runaway rate of annual inflation to single figures, and a number of high profile direct investments in the mining sector. Mining (notably of copper and cobalt) has long been a principal driver of the economy, which is now complemented by a growing agricultural sector. Alongside these and the manufacturing sector, the national government, which was returned to power for a second five-year term in the 2006 elections, has identified tourism as one of its four priority areas of planned development.

Lusaka

The capital city of Zambia, Lusaka, is the seat of national government, parliament and law courts, as well as the first and largest public university, UNZA. It has been the venue for many large regional and international conferences, beginning with the founding conference of the Organisation of Non-Aligned Nations in 1970.

Lusaka is situated in the centre of the country and houses a population of about 1.2 million in an area of 136 square kilometers. More than half of these live in high density, poorly serviced residential areas (known as compounds) on the periphery, most of which started as informal squatter settlements formed by migrants from rural areas since 1964, but many have since been upgraded with the introduction of piped water, access roads, health clinics and schools, as well as more durable building materials.

The main arteries are attractively laid out with wide avenues lined by flowering trees.

Public buildings of interest include the Parliament and the University, both of which are within walking distance from the conference centre, and the Lusaka museum. All the major hotels and most of the lodges fall within a radius of about 5 km from the conference centre, and outside brief rush hour periods, the road traffic is light affording a 10-15 minute commuting time. In addition to the dining facilities at the conference centre and the hotels and lodges, Lusaka has a sizable and growing range of restaurants, that offer a broad spectrum of international cuisine.

Beyond the city centre, as in many cities of the Third World, the surfacing of feeder roads street lighting and public transport are below international standards. However, Lusaka is a relatively safe city to explore, and there are plenty of private taxis for hire. Those interested will be offered assistance by the conference secretariat to visit the bustling markets, churches and other public areas that host the daily life of the majority of the city's population.