Zambia Grade 12 School Syllabus - Geography

This syllabus outlines the geography curriculum for Grade 12 in Zambia, focusing on the impact of humans on the environment. It builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Grades 10 and 11, applying key concepts of human-environment interaction learned at a global level to the local Zambian context.

Section D: Zambia

• 12.1 Agriculture: This topic explores land tenure systems in Zambia (traditional/customary, state, leasehold, and freehold), factors favoring irrigation farming (topography, water availability, soil fertility, markets, transport, labor, capital), the environmental effects of irrigation (salinization, waterlogging, waterborne diseases, pollution), bad agricultural practices (overstocking, lack of fallowing, monocropping, poor land tillage) and their effects (destruction and displacement of wildlife, deforestation, pollution, desertification, soil degradation), and soil conservation measures and sustainable agriculture (crop rotation, contour plowing, mulching, terracing, fallowing, strip cultivation, organic farming, agro-forestry). It also examines Zambia's agricultural potential within the SADC region.
• 12.2 Forestry: This topic covers the factors limiting commercial exploitation of indigenous trees (difficult access, low demand, lack of capital, poor timber quality, mixed stands, weak forest management laws), problems affecting forests (droughts, fires, human activities), and the effects of invasive plant species like Lantana camara and Kafue weed (inhibiting navigation, reducing oxygen for aquatic life, displacing indigenous species, producing toxins, disturbing hydroelectric power generation).
• 12.4 Wildlife and Tourism: This topic examines the importance of wildlife, factors hindering the growth of the wildlife and tourism industry (corruption, traditional practices, climatic conditions, weak law enforcement, poaching), and government measures to promote wildlife conservation and tourism (community participation, game ranching, establishing ZAWA and forestry departments, infrastructure development, enhanced security, sensitization, favorable immigration laws, wildlife conservation clubs, international publicity).
• 12.5 Mining in Zambia: This topic covers factors influencing mineral exploitation (geological occurrence, ore quality, accessibility, operational costs, transport, national and international demand, labor, power, government policy), interpretation of production and marketing data, uses of major minerals (copper, lead, zinc, coal), mineral processing stages (blasting, crushing, flotation, smelting, refining), major export routes (rail and road to Dar-es-Salaam, Port Elizabeth, East London, Maputo; sea routes to Europe, Asia, North America), and markets for Zambian minerals (Germany, UK, China, India, Japan, Italy, USA).
• 12.6 Mining in the Sub-Region (Zimbabwe, Angola, and South Africa): This topic covers the distribution of gold, diamonds, coal, petroleum, natural gas, and iron ore in the sub-region, factors influencing the location of mineral processing plants, the importance of mining to sub-regional economies, constraints associated with mineral production and sales, measures to overcome mining-related problems, and the environmental impact of mining.
• 12.7 Power and Energy in Zambia: This topic explores factors affecting the location and development of hydroelectric power stations, the various uses of energy in Zambia, and the negative environmental impacts of hydroelectric power development.
• 12.8 Power and Energy in the Sub-Region: This topic covers the location of major power stations in the sub-region and energy and power needs.
• 12.9 Transport and Communication in Zambia: This topic covers major means of transport and communication, their importance, problems associated with poor transport and communication, and potential solutions.
• 12.10 Transport and Communication in the Sub-Region: This topic focuses on the prospects for landlocked countries.
• 12.11 Processing and Manufacturing Industries in Zambia: This topic covers the importance of these industries.
• 12.12 Processing and Manufacturing Industries in the Sub-Region (Zimbabwe and South Africa): This topic covers the types and location of major industries, constraints on their development, and intra-regional trade in manufactured goods.