BOLIVIA
HistoryEarly 1500s: colony of Spain independence from Spanish rule
1809-1825: Bolivian war of independence – Simon Bolivar was leader of revolution; established a republic
From this point onwards, the country was involved in numerous wars with its neighbours, experienced the rise of militant nationalism, capitalists exploited natural resources and minerals ruthlessly, a chequered capitalist political history with no less than 200 coups, all played out in a country in which the living conditions of the indigenous people, who constituted more than two thirds of the population, remained deplorable.
Forced to work under primitive conditions in the mines and in nearly feudal status on large estates, the indigenous people have consistently been denied access to education, economic opportunity, or political participation. Evo Morales comes from this portion of the population.
Basic facts2006 population was estimated at 8.9 million people.64% of the population live below the poverty line; 72% eke out their living in the informal sector.Exports: natural gas (large reserves found recently), soybeans and soy products, textiles, crude petroleum, zinc, ore and tin, coca (crop from which cocaine is produced).
STOP PRESS
Since this article was written, Bolivia’s attempt to nationalise its hydrocarbons has received a blow. According to the Mail and Guardian of August 18 2006, the plan has been “temporarily suspended due to a lack of resources”. “There were insufficient funds, it said to pay compensation to foreign investors. The ministry said a $180 million loan was being negotiated with the central bank to revive the programme.”
Azwell Banda is a Zambian worker who was forced to flee his country at the end of 1997. He is now living and working in South Africa, as a political refugee. This is an edited version of an article which first appeared in The Post of Zambia, on May 7 2006