[Cooking with Her Excellency, Zambia] Zambia in brief

Zambia in brief

Capital: Lusaka

Major cities: Ndola, Livingstone,

Kitwe

Official language: English

Population: 15 million

Religion: Mostly Christian

Surface area: 290,587 square miles

Number of Korean expats: 136 (2014)

Strengthening relations

Diplomatic relations between Zambia and Korea were established on Sept. 4, 1990, on a non-residential basis through the Zambian Embassy in Tokyo. The embassy here opened in June 2014, and Ambassador Mumba S. Kapumpa presented his credentials to President Park Geun-hye on Sept. 12, 2014.

Healthy trade

Zambia’s export volume to Korea averaged $100,000 between the fourth quarter of 2012 and fourth quarter of 2013, with the main items being copper and coffee. Imports from Korea averaged $10.28 million in the same period, with the main items being automobiles and electronic equipment.

Developing investment

Following the establishment of the Zambian diplomatic mission in Seoul, there has been significant awareness of investment opportunities between the two countries. Some Korean companies have already established branches in Zambia, with the key sectors being mobile phones and household goods such as television sets, refrigerators and air conditioning equipment. A team of Korean investors recently visited Zambia on a field study.

Chisanga Kapumpa

Chisanga Kapumpa is a wife, a mother of five, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a fashion designer in the presented order. Before arriving in Seoul, Kapumpa, who was born and raised in Lusaka, ran a tailor’s shop and designed all the garments sold in her establishment. She also taught sewing during her spare time. A founding member of the Zambia Association of Fashion Designers, Kapumpa is currently enrolled in a local leathercraft class and pursuing an opportunity to design handbags and shoes here. Having turned 50 recently, she is also an active member of the Seoul Ambassadors’ Spouses Association.

Mumba S. Kapumpa

Zambian Ambassador to Korea

Before joining the diplomatic service, Mumba S. Kapumpa practiced law since 1972. Working in public service for more than 32 years, Kapumpa was appointed the permanent secretary (treasury counsel) at Zambia’s Ministry of Finance (1982-92), and then served as the first secretary and chief executive of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1992-2002), a body for developing, regulating and supervising the capital market in Zambia. He thus pioneered the establishment and development of the capital market of Zambia.

He was the chairman of World Vision Zambia (2013-15) and a corporate governance expert and fellow of the Institute of Directors in Zambia. He was admitted to the Rank and Dignity of State Counsel at State House in April 2014.