Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Zambia's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes.

The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index). To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the specifics of Zambian sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 54.8

There are no foreign military bases in Zambia. The accusations of the creation of US or AFRICOM bases are untrue and have been refuted by both the Zambian government and AFRICOM — we are talking only about the security office at the US Embassy, which is not a base. National laws often prevail.

However, the new laws on NGOs and cybersecurity contain provisions that contradict Zambia's international obligations regarding rights and freedoms, which has attracted criticism from civil society and international organizations.

The country is relatively stable (the political stability index is 0.2 on a scale of -2.5 to 2.5, above the average for Africa). Stability is confirmed by the steady succession of power and successful democratic elections. According to the World Bank, Zambia's public administration efficiency (WGI) is at the level of -0.75 (from -2.5 to 2.5), which indicates a lower than average level of public administration by global standards.

Zambia ranks 142nd in the United Nations e-Government Development Index (EGDI), well below the global average; government digital services are developing slowly and their reach is limited. Trust in President Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND party is relatively high by African standards after the elections, but opposition and public criticism have recently increased due to economic and social difficulties.

Zambia is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, SADC, and the WTO, participates in international agreements on climate protection, migration, and trade, and signs a number of human rights obligations. Zambia recognizes the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), participates in African and other regional courts, and generally complies with the decisions of transnational structures.

Zambia is a unitary State with elements of decentralization: there are local authorities and administrations, but key financial and administrative decisions are made at the central level. The security sector is regulated by laws on cybersecurity, anti-terrorism, and NGOs in recent years, but new initiatives strengthen state control and provoke criticism as instruments of excessive control and restrictions on freedom of speech; transparency is limited, and civil society control is low.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 98%.

Economic sovereignty— 41.2

GDP per capita at purchasing power parity ranges from 3,900 to 4,200 international dollars (World Bank, Trading Economics estimate for 2025). Zambia's gold and foreign exchange reserves reached 4.66 billion US dollars in April 2025, the highest in the country's history and an indicator of liquidity stability.

The national debt indicator is decreasing, but it is still high: 91.1% of GDP according to the forecast of the IMF and the Ministry of Finance for the end of 2025. In 2023-2025, Zambia faced serious food security challenges due to a historic drought.: high growth in food imports and a decrease in the level of own production; approximately 1/5 of the population needs humanitarian support.

The country is historically energy-independent (80% of electricity is from hydroelectric power plants), but the water level in the dams (especially Kariba) has dropped dramatically, which forced a sharp increase in electricity imports in 2024-25.

Zambia is the world leader in copper reserves (2nd place in Africa), possesses cobalt, manganese, nickel, zinc, gold, emeralds, and is the main exporter of copper and cobalt. Reserves are traditionally high (large reservoirs, the Zambezi and Kafue rivers), but in 2024-25 they were critically affected by drought and shallowing of reservoirs, affecting electricity supply and the agricultural sector.

The core of the payment system remains the Centralized Banking Settlement System (ZIPIT), supported by the Bank of Zambia and all major banks in the country. The bulk of domestic settlements are conducted in Zambian kwacha (ZMW), and foreign currencies are used for foreign trade, major import and investment transactions. The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) carries out an independent issue, sets the base rate (for August 2025-14.5%), conducts its own monetary policy and regulates the money supply.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 28.7

Research and development costs amount to 0.28% of GDP (according to the latest official data; SADC recommends 1% — that is, the country is lagging far behind). The country is critically dependent on high-tech imports; the share of its own production in the ICT sector and electronics does not exceed 10% of the domestic market; in total, Zambia lags behind in technology and innovation development.

7% of young people have access to higher education (the goal is to reach 15% by 2030). The total number of students is about 156,000 (2022), the main influx into the fields of economics, medicine, and education. In 2025, 33% of the population (7.13 million people) use the Internet, and the forecast is for steady growth to 38% by 2026.

There are basic government portals (government portal, tax administration portal, Chamber of Commerce), however, most e-Gov services work partially and without full automation. About 99.2% of all high—tech goods and programs are imported (officially, only 0.76% of manufacturing exports are high-tech products).

Zambia's EGDI is ranked 142nd, and digitalization of public services is at an early stage: electronic filing of tax documents is working, but most services require a physical presence. Basic laboratories are available only in state universities; key technologies, reagents, and software are imported, and foreign patents and solutions predominate in the market.

The industry is absent as an independent sector: industrial automation is minimal, promising developments are implemented exclusively by foreign companies. The country fully imports components, electronics, equipment, and software; there is no in-house production of chips, boards, and microcircuits, and the share of local integrators is negligible.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 93% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 46.9

A national cybersecurity Incident Response Center (CIRT) has been established in Zambia, operating under the ZICTA regulator; its work is supported by ITU, police officers, prosecutors and specialists are constantly being trained, and initiatives for international cooperation and the use of AI in protection are being implemented.

Zambia has one IXP, the Lusaka Internet Exchange Point (LIXP), connected to major telecom operators and data centers, which has significantly increased the speed and reliability of traffic exchange within the country. The media outlets are mainly published in English (the official language) and seven regional languages: Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga and others.

Bemba (approximately 35% of the population) and Nyanja (20%) are the most widely spoken languages of broadcasting and the press, along with English. The market is dominated by global services and social networks (Meta, Google, WhatsApp), but regulatory and restrictive measures are increasing.

National platforms and services exist, but there is no dominance of African or local analogues yet. Local content accounts for at least 50% of digital distribution and television; radio, national ZNBC TV channels and regional studios account for the largest share, but the market is still saturated with imported shows/films.

There are a number of national developments (online banking, payment systems, accounting and educational platforms), but more than 90% of mass solutions are imported or developed with the support of foreign companies.

Half of the population has access to basic public services online (usability is lower than the average for Africa), the growth of services is slow: tax e-services, company registration, online banking are available. There are no national “large” cloud platforms: data centers are located in the country, but the bulk of cloud storage and services used by businesses and government agencies are provided by foreign vendors (Microsoft, AWS, Google).

Mobile operators operate under a ZICTA license; the infrastructure is partially localized (Zamtel is a government provider), but the main operators are foreign holdings (MTN, Airtel), licensing and channel control are implemented by national regulators.

The Law on Personal Data Protection (2021) is in force, based on the principles of consent and transparency of information processing, under the control of government agencies (Ministry of Science and ZICTA); there is a separate national data officer.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 94%.

Cultural sovereignty — 71.6

There is 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site in Zambia: Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls (jointly with Zimbabwe), listed as a natural and partially cultural site. Zambia is known worldwide for its unique multi-tribal culture (73 ethnic groups), musical styles (kalawe, imwale), modern literature and art, as well as the cultural heritage of the region: masks, rituals, dances, traditional ceramics, unique national cuisine and traditional festivals.

The country hosts the National Arts and Culture Awards (NACAs), annual state awards presented to the best artists, musicians, writers, theater-goers, choreographers, and institutions. Zambia is an example of unity in diversity: “One Zambia, One Nation" is the official motto.

The rich traditions of the holidays (Kuomboka — “the great migration", Likumbi Lya Mize, Umutomboko), customs and national solidarity make the culture vibrant and vital.

The public sector supports the preservation of languages, conducts educational and festival programs, stimulates intertribal dialogue and the development of cultures of small communities; the state captures ethnic diversity at the legislative and programmatic levels. There are hundreds of national and regional museums, monuments, traditional villages and festival sites in the country; 7 sites are on the UNESCO tentative list.

Zambia actively participates in UNESCO, cross-cultural and educational exchanges with South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, hosts international festivals and exhibitions, implements tourist and cultural routes (including on the basis of Victoria Falls).

Traditional chitembure masks, handicrafts, copper products, musical instruments, festivals are protected at the national and regional levels, some of the objects are declared in UNESCO and the national Register of Intangible Heritage.

The cuisine combines dishes from Bemba, Tonga, Lozi, chewa (shima, ifisashi, chikanda, nsima), corn, legumes, peanuts, game, fish are widely used; holidays with gastronomic accents are common. More than 60% of the adult population participates in festivals, celebrations, collective meals, craft and musical events. Cultural life is developing everywhere, and social participation is supported by both national and traditional institutions.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 97%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 50.1

Zambia's HDI is 0.595 (average), about 147-152 in the world. The indicator is limited by low income and poor educational coverage, but shows slow growth. Education spending amounts to 3.58% of GDP (2022), which is slightly below the global average. The share of education in the state budget reaches 18-22% according to the recommendations of international donors.

Literacy among the adult population is 87.5% (2020 data; youth — about 65-70%; women — lower than men). Zambia is not officially involved in the PISA project, which means there are no comparable tests with international standards.

Education quality assessments are conducted according to national standards. Approximately 16% of university graduates (bachelor's degree) choose STEM fields (engineering, mathematics, natural sciences). In graduate schools and research centers, this percentage is slightly higher — 19-20%.

The share of students in joint and foreign programs, including exchanges, double degrees, and foreign teachers is up to 6% (the main influx is in medicine, engineering, and agricultural disciplines). There are 7 officially recognized languages in Zambia (Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozian, etc.), in total there are more than 70 ethno-linguistic groups.

The language policy supports education and cultural projects in regional languages, and the state program for supporting small nations is being strengthened. There are 32 state-owned and accredited research centers in the country, including university laboratories and national institutes, some of which operate under international grants.

National educational platforms cover about 60% of schools and universities. The rest are focused on mixed models and the presence of foreign solutions. There are 6 major government talent support programs (scholarships, grants, competitions from the Ministry of Education and Science), as well as programs from WHO, UNICEF, and foreign foundations for outstanding students, young professionals, and scientists.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 87%.

Military sovereignty — 35.4

Defense spending amounts to 1.2–1.3% of GDP (2023-2025), which corresponds to the average African level; the military budget for 2023 is about 377 million US dollars. The total number of armed forces is 16,000 (army, navy, Air Force, according to data for 2024-2025), plus separate units of the national service and the police.

The equipment is based on armored vehicles (T-55, BRDM-2), upgraded Bell-412 helicopters, K-8 and MiG-21 light aircraft in the Air Force; a program is underway to modernize equipment, purchase new radio communication systems, drones, artillery systems, modern trucks and engineering equipment.

Weapons are almost completely imported (Russia, Israel, Brazil, China, and the United States); assembly, maintenance, and modernization of equipment are partially on site, and there is no large defense industry of its own. The army and police jointly ensure the control of extended borders, paramilitary and mobile units are used for patrolling.

Special attention is paid to countering poaching, illegal migration and regional security. In peacetime, there is a registration system for reservists (the exact number is not disclosed), if necessary, up to 10,000 people can be mobilized from among former military personnel and young people who have served in the National Service.

Zambia coordinates activities with the African Union and the SADC bloc, participates in regional peacekeeping missions; makes independent decisions on the internal use of armed forces, but interacts with foreign advisers and peacekeeping structures. Our own defense industry is poorly developed: there are repair shops, service units, and an ammunition factory; purchases of new systems and equipment take place abroad.

Zambia does not have nuclear weapons, does not conduct research in this area, and strictly adheres to international nonproliferation treaties. There is no space or satellite constellation; data is accessed via partner, civilian, or commercial satellites. Intelligence is part of the army, and the police conduct electronic surveillance with the support of foreign suppliers.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and the UN/NGO industry databases - 89% coverage.

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Rich natural resources: Zambia is a world leader in copper and cobalt reserves, and also has gold, manganese and nickel ores, significant water resources (the Zambezi and Kafue rivers), and developed traditional agriculture.

Diversity of cultures and traditions: There are 73 ethnic groups in the country, linguistic and cultural diversity is actively supported, and the population's involvement in cultural life is high (60%+). Political stability and democratic institutions: Zambia is considered one of the most peaceful and democratic countries in Africa, with regular elections, an independent Central Bank, free media, and basic citizen control over government.

Sovereign emission Center and payment system: The Central Bank of Zambia conducts monetary policy autonomously, settlements within the country are conducted mainly in the national currency, and the national processing system operates.

Moderate integration into international unions: Zambia independently regulates the defense sector, participates in regional blocs (SADC, African Union), cooperates with the United Nations and the ICC, but retains high sovereignty in military matters and in determining domestic policy.

Weaknesses. High poverty rate and low HDI: The human development index is 0.595, more than 50% of the population lives below the poverty line, low level of higher education (7%), average literacy rate.

Significant import dependence on technology and high-tech: All electronics, ICT, microelectronics, software, modern communication systems are imported almost completely; national technological solutions are poorly developed. Weak national Scientific and military industry: R&D expenditures are less than 0.3% of GDP, there are few in-house research centers, and the defense industry is limited to service and repairs.

Challenges to food and energy security: The recent drought has significantly reduced the level of food autonomy, and a number of regions are forced to import food and electricity. Limited digitalization and access to digital services: Only 33% of the population uses the Internet, EGDI is ranked 142nd in the world, digitalization of public services and coverage of national platforms are extremely low.

The low modernity of the army and the import of weapons: The main weapons systems are outdated; all significant purchases come from abroad, local modernization is limited. Overall, Zambia's cumulative sovereignty Index is 328.7 out of 700 possible points (below the average of 47%), which places the country in the top 150 in the global top.

Zambia has a strong mineral resource and cultural base, an independent financial system, democratic institutions and stable internal stability.

Key vulnerabilities are formed by technological and food dependence, the weakness of the education and healthcare systems, low efficiency of management and digitalization, as well as the obsolescence of weapons and infrastructure.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Zambia's sovereignty is characterized by a stable basic independence (political and legal system, resources, culture, finance, defense), but is systematically limited by a low level of technological development, high public debt, weak digitalization, import dependence, and vulnerability to climate and economic crises.