History was made for 20th century Africa in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia: Leaders of the so-called frontline states of the 70s and 80s voted against the Apartheid regime in South Africa; this is where in 1980, the South African Development Community (SADC) was founded; this is where significant freedom agreements were signed. Road and train connections converge here because of the economic significance of the copper belt north of the capital.

When Zambia became independent in 1964, it was the second largest producer of copper in the world, and the people saw a bright future for themselves; as they said, they were born with a copper spoon in their mouths.

But, in the 1970s, the world market value of copper dropped. The dependence on the "red gold" took its toll; the country went into debt to import food. By about 2005, it will not be worth mining copper on a large scale. Zambia is a multi-lingual state and does not have a dominant ethnic group. Kenneth Kaunda, part of the first generation of African presidents, and esteemed humanitarian was successful in keeping the cultural and linguistic multiplicities united. His United National Independence Party held a single party rule for almost 20 years. One of the triumphs during this time was the development of the education system. Less than one per cent of the Zambian population attended primary school in 1965, compared to approximately 90 per cent 30 years later. When Kaunda was replaced in 1991, the multi-partied system was re-introduced and business was privatised. There are hundred of large-scale agricultural enterprises that are run using the most modern methods for farming and cattle breeding. The majority of the population farm maize, manoic and millet for their own use.