Location Zambia

Flying Mission Zambia serves the people of Zambia from three bases. Our main base at Chilongolo, just outside Lusaka, is home to most of our personnel. It is also our main operational base, where flight scheduling, maintenance, and administration functions are performed. The two outstations at Chitokoloki and Macha have planes permanently based at them, along with pilots and their families.

To give you some idea of our mission field, here are some 'facts and figures' about Zambia (from World Fact Book, April 2009)

• In the UN Human Development Index, 165 countries are better off than Zambia; 12 are worse off.
• 12 million people live here and 45% are under 15 years of age.
• Life expectancy is 38 years and 10% die before they reach 5 years of age.
• More than 77 languages are spoken; English is the official language.
• Major religions: Christianity 50-75%; Muslim and Hindu 24-49%; indigenous beliefs 1%.
• GDP per person is US$ 1,500 and unemployment runs at 50%; 86% of Zambians live below the poverty line.

Formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, the country was renamed at the time of independence in 1964. Slightly larger than the state of Texas, Zambia has a mild tropical climate. The rainy season from October to April stimulates lush growth.

Heavily dependent on mining, the country suffered a serious downturn in economy when world copper prices fell in the 1980's and 1990's. More recently, the economy has improved as the worldwide demand for copper sent prices soaring. However, in 2009, the country is once again seeing an economic downturn due to the global recession.

Despite high unemployment and poverty, the Zambian people are cheerful and friendly, and highly motivated to do well.