By Tim Lambert
Early Zambia
1st Century AD Bushmen live in Zambia
4th Century AD Bantu speaking immigrants arrive in Zambia
12 Century The Iron Age Luanga culture exists in Zambia
1500 Organised kingdoms arise in Zambia
1851 David Livingstone is the first European to reach Zambia
1889 Cecil Rhodes sets up the South African Company
1891 Cecil Rhodes makes treaties with Zambian tribes
1898 The British take control of all of Zambia
1905 Livingstone is founded. Lusaka is founded.
1925 A legislative council if formed in Zambia
1935 Urban advisory councils are formed
1936 Kitwe is founded as a copper mining center
1939 Zambia is the world’s main source of copper
1948 African miners form a union. For the first time Africans are appointed to the legislative council.
1949 African railwaymen form a union. The African National Congress is formed.
1953 Zambia is made to form a federation with Malawi and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
1955-59 The Kariba dam is built
1958 Zambia is given a new constitution
1961 Kenneth Kaunda becomes head of the National Independence Party
Independent Zambia
1964 Zambia becomes independent
1967 Kenneth Kaunda declares a policy of ‘humanism’
1972 Kaunda bans opposition parties in Zambia
1974 A railway opens from Zambia to Tanzania
1985 As the Zambian economy flounders the IMF demands cuts
1990 Kaunda’s mishandling of the economy provokes riots in Zambia
1991 Kaunda is forced to hold elections. Frederick Chiluba wins the presidential election and abandons Kuanda’s failed policies
1994 Privatization begins
2005 The Zambian economy begins to grow reasonably strongly
