Largely peaceful internal pressure, including the voices of several influential British residents, eventually led to Zambia gaining its independence in 1964, when it joined the Commonwealth. The economy is currently in a poor state, with a huge national debt and no practical means to pay this off. This has been devaluing steadily, in line with the country's inflation rate. The chief of state and the head of government is the president, who appoints cabinet ministers from members of the National Assembly, a chamber of 150 elected representatives. The judicial system was set up according to a British model, based on English common law and customary law.
Legislative acts receive judicial review in an ad hoc constitutional council.
He has been liberalising the economy and conforming to a plan agreed with the IMF, which is widely appreciated as good, though some of the economic measures are difficult, especially for the more impoverished Zambians. In October 1996 the MMD won a second resounding election victory. Increasingly the MMD's commitment to democracy is questioned. Now, at the turn of the millennium, elections are in sight for 2001. The constitution limits any president to two terms in office.