Why is English is one of Zambia's official languages?

Answer 1

Starting in thg 18th Century, Zambia became, by agreement with the local chiefs the British Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia. In 1888 a British company obtained mineral rights in the country and later major copper deposits were discovered. Now, as a British colony the official language was English and by 1964 there were 70,000 British people in the country

Answer 2

English is the official language because Britain ruled the colony for many years, and so many Africans migrated there that many different Bantu tongues are spoken. Many native peoples could not speak to each other except for English and possibly 'Chikabanga'