The newspaper arose from the Central African Mail, which was bought by the government from David Astor in 1965. It was renamed the Zambian Mail and subsequently the Zambia Daily Mail in 1970. The paper soon became a mouthpiece for the government, publishing official statements and press releases, while being instructed to become an "instrument in nation building". However, this saw a decline in readership and advertising.[1]
In 2005, its circulation figures were estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000.[2]