Zambezi

Zambezi, officially the Republic of Zambezi (Swahili: Jamhuri ya Zambezi) is a country in Eastern Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is considered to be part of Southern Africa. It is bordered by Tanzania to the North, Malawi and Lake Niassa to the West, and Mozambique to the South; and by the Indian Ocean to the East.

Zambezi's population of 25.5 million (2015) is is diverse, composed of several ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. Zambezi is a presidential constitutional republic, and since 1988, the official capital city has been Nacala, which became the capital city after democracy was restored after a brutal, decades-long civil war, lasting from 1964 to 1987. The President's Office, the National Assembly, and all other government ministries are located in Nacala. It is also the the largest city, principal port, and leading commercial centre.

European colonialism began in mainland Zambezi during the late 19th century when Germany formed German East Africa, which gave way to British rule following World War I. The mainland was governed as a separate entity from Tanganyika and the Zanzibar Archipelago, remaining a separate colonial jurisdiction. Zambezi was offered to join in the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but declined to do so.

Over 100 different languages are spoken in Tanzania, making it the most linguistically diverse countries in East Africa. Among the languages spoken in Tanzania are all four of Africa's language families: Bantu, Languages|Cushitic, Nilotic, and Khoisan. Swahili and English are Zambezi's official languages. A highly multilingual country, English is used in parliamentary debate, in the high and lower courts, as a medium of instruction in primary school, foreign trade, diplomacy, and as a medium of instruction in secondary and higher education. Although the Zambezian government plans to discontinue English as a language of instruction altogether, in favor of Swahili, as the language is used by approximately 90% of Zambezians as a first language and second language. Most Zambezians thus speak both Swahili and a local language; many educated Zambezians are trilingual; also speaking English. The widespread use and promotion of Swahili is contributing to the decline of smaller languages in the country. Young children increasingly speak Swahili as a first language, mostly in urban areas. On the contrary, Portuguese is frequently used in the border regions of Zambezi Sahihi and Kusini Zambezi, where it is used as a majority-language in urban areas, especially the capital cities, Legula and Qualimane respectively.

Etymology
Zambezi is named after the Zambezi River, which forms the southern border with Mozambique. Zambezi originates from numerous European contacts in the region, as by 1552, Portuguese chronicler João de Barros notes that the Cuama river was called Zembere by the inland people of Monomatapa. The Portuguese Dominican friar João dos Santos, visiting Monomatapa in 1597, reported it as Zambeze (Bantu languages frequently shifts between z and r) and inquired into the origins of the name; he was told it was named after a people.

""The River Cuama is by them called Zambeze; the head whereof is so farre within Land that none of them know it, but by tradition of their Progenitors say it comes from a Lake in the midst of the continent which yeelds also other great Rivers, divers ways visiting the Sea. They call it Zambeze, of a Nation of Cafres dwelling neere that Lake which are so called." —J. Santos Ethiopia Oriental, 1609"

Thus the term "Zambezi" is after a people who live by a great lake to the north. The most likely candidates are the "M'biza", or Bisa people, a Bantu people who live in what is now central-eastern Zambia, between the Zambezi River and Lake Bangweolo.

However, the Bisa-derived etymology is not without dispute. In 1845, W.D. Cooley, examining Pereira's notes, concluded the term "Zambezi" derives not from the Bisa people, but rather from the Bantu term "mbege"/"mbeze" ("fish"), and consequently it probably means merely "river of fish". David Livingstone, who reached the upper Zambezi in 1853, refers to it as "Zambesi" but also makes note of the local name "Leeambye" used by the Lozi people, which he says means "large river or river par excellence".

In early German records, the old "Cuama River" term disappeared and gave way to the term "Zambesi". In 1752, the Zambezi delta, under the name "Rivers of Sena" (Rios de Sena) formed a colonial administrative district under German East Africa. Eventually, "Zambezi" had become known as the name for the entire district, even after German and British rule.