DOCSLIB.ORG

Decolonising Southern Africa: a History of Zambia's Role

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Decolonising Southern Africa: a History of Zambia's Role Decolonising Southern Africa: A History of Zambia‘s Role in Zimbabwe‘s Liberation Struggle, 1964-1979 by Clarence Chongo A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA FACULTY OF HUMANITIES Supervisor: Professor Alois S. Mlambo Co-supervisor: Professor Ian R. Phimister June 2015 © University of Pretoria ―War is a continuation of politics by other means‖—Mao Tse Tung, 1938 ―The naked truth of decolonisation evokes for us the searing bullets and bloodstained knives which emanate from it.‖—Frantz Fanon, 1965 ―One person‘s terrorist is another‘s freedom fighter‖ ii © University of Pretoria Abstract This thesis attempts to reconstruct the history of Zambia‘s role in Zimbabwe‘s liberation struggle from 1964 to the latter part of 1979. In doing so, it examines key aspects of Zambia‘s contribution to the liberation struggle by analysing the broad range of assistance accorded to the Zimbabwe African People‘s Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), the two liberation movements which waged armed struggle against the Rhodesian government. The study argues that the Zambian authorities employed a two- pronged approach—war and diplomacy—in supporting Zimbabwe‘s liberation struggle. However, for mainly economic reasons, they were more inclined to pursue diplomatic approaches rather than exclusively relying on armed struggle in resolving the Rhodesian crisis. They backed the armed struggle only to an extent that it was a necessary instrument to coerce the Rhodesian government to the negotiating table, but this strategy had limited success and created numerous tensions and contradictions. Some sections of Zimbabwe nationalists accused Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda, of undermining the liberation struggle and supporting a particular nationalist leader. Thus, Zambia‘s role in support of Zimbabwe‘s liberation struggle was shaped by the ideological, strategic and economic interests of Zambia‘s ruling elites which, in turn, shaped the attitudes, perceptions and relationships among the nationalist leaders competing for power within the liberation movements. Despite the numerous tensions and contradictions, and the enormous economic risks associated with Zambia‘s commitment to Zimbabwe‘s liberation struggle, the study concludes that it played a major role and contributed significantly to the liberation war. iii © University of Pretoria Key Terms: Armed struggle, Zambia‘s role, Kenneth Kaunda, Rhodesia‘s UDI, ZAPU, ZANU, Ian Smith, liberation movements, Zimbabwe‘s liberation struggle, southern Africa, Lusaka Manifesto, Robert Mugabe, Pan-Africanism, Joshua Nkomo, black majority rule, détente, iv © University of Pretoria Dedication I dedicate this thesis to the memory of my late father Felix Gibson Chongo, who never lived long enough to witness my achievement, to my mother Unia Mweemba, who carried the burden of raising me up and to Mubanga, Kanisha, Munshya and Mwiche, the constant sources of joy. v © University of Pretoria Acknowledgements I owe many thanks to many people indeed. I owe tremendous amount of gratitude to my supervisors Professor Alois Mlambo and Professor Ian Phimister for their proficiency in providing guidance and support. They read every chapter I wrote and gave me their comments which significantly helped to shape this thesis. I am greatly indebted to them for their patience and skillful mentorship. To their persistence, they added the most generous offer of help. I also wish to thank them for securing financial support for me from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) which enabled me to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria (UP). In particular, I sincerely thank Prof. Mlambo for being my advocate within the complex university bureaucracy. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. They generously funded my PhD studies. Without their financial support, I could not have undertaken this project. In particular, I thank Clare Digby of the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. She always kept in touch, constantly inquired about my progress and often facilitated payment of my tuition fees, and ensured my research and subsistence expenses both in Zambia and South Africa, were promptly and sufficiently met. In addition, I thank the University of Pretoria management for granting me a bursary in the final year of my studies. It would have been much more difficult to write this thesis without the help of members of staff at the University of Zambia library, the National Archives of Zambia (NAZ) and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Political Archives in Lusaka. They granted me access to the materials. I wish to particularly mention Andrew Nyambe and Petwell vi © University of Pretoria Munshya who were not only friendly but also facilitated my research at UNIP Archives. They located and provided the files. I would also like to thank all the members of staff in the Department of History at the University of Zambia. My interaction with them was a constant source of encouragement, inspiration and comfort. These included Dr. C. M Chabatama (late), Prof Bizeck J Phiri, Prof Mwelwa C Musambachime, Prof. Francis B Musonda, Dr. Walima T Kalusa, Mr. Friday E Mulenga, Dr. Euston K Chiputa, Dr. Webby S Kalikiti, Dr. Kamini Krishna, Dr. Simeon Maravanyika, Ms Dorothy Mwansa, Mr. Alfred Tembo, Ms. Mailes Mbewe, Mr. Mbozi Santebe (SDF), Ms. Martha Kayuni (SDF), and Ms. Jane Chansa. To those who constructively criticised earlier drafts of this work, I am profoundly grateful. They shaped my thinking. I wish also to extend tremendous amount of gratitude to my wife, Mubanga and my children, Kanisha, Munshya and Mwiche who endured long hours of my absence during the difficult period of writing the thesis. I am deeply indebted for their patience, understanding, support and encouragement. Lastly, I pay tribute to my brothers—Musenge and Katoma and sisters—Mphande and Lupondo—for their unfailing support. My constant interaction with Mr. Kennedy Zimba of the Department of Crop Science at UNZA, was always refreshing and a source of perpetual encouragement to go an extra mile in pursuit of knowledge. To those who supported me in diverse ways but whose names I have not mentioned, I equally say thank you. vii © University of Pretoria List of Abbreviations AACUM All African Convention and Unity Movement of South Africa AAPC All Africa People‘s Congress AASO Afro-Asian Solidarity Organisation ALC African Liberation Centre ANC African National Congress of South Africa ANC African National Council ANC African National Congress of Zambia BCO British Colonial Office BSAC British South Africa Company CBU Copperbelt University CCP Chinese Communist Party CECAS Conference of East and Central African States CHOGM Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CIA The United States Central Intelligence Agency CIAS Conference of Independent African States CIO Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation COREMO Comite Revolucionario de Mocambique CPI Consumer Price Index DRC Democratic Republic of Congo FLCS Movement for the Liberation of French Somaliland FNDP First National Development Plan FNLA Frente Nacional de Libertacao de Angola FLNA Front for the Liberation of Algeria viii © University of Pretoria FLS Front Line States FRELIMO Frente de Libertacao de Mocambique FROLIZI Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe GDP Gross Domestic Product GNP Gross National Product GRAE Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile ICJ International Court of Justice IDF Israeli Defence Forces INDECO Industrial Development Corporation LME London Metal Exchange LONRHO London and Rhodesia Holding Company MANU Mocambique Africana Nacional Uniao MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MHA Ministry of Home Affairs MINDECO Mining Development Corporation MPs Members of Parliament MPLA Movimento Popular de Libertacao de Angola NAM Non-Aligned Movement NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NCB National Coal Board NCSC National Coal Supply Commission NDP National Democratic Party NLF National Liberation Front (North Vietnam) NORTEC Northern Technical College NP National Party (Rhodesia) ix © University of Pretoria NP National Party (South Africa) NRANC Northern Rhodesia African National Congress NRDC Natural Resources Development College NUZS National Union of Zambian Students OPO Ovamboland People‘s Organisation PAC Pan Africanist Congress PAIGC Partido Africano da Independencia da Guine e Cabo Verde PCA Partido Communista de Angola PCC People‘s Caretaker Council PDU People‘s Democratic Union PLO Palestine Liberation Organisation PLUA Partido da Luta dos Africanos RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force RDA Ressemblement Democratique Africaine RST Roan Select Trust SANNC South African Native National Congress SAS Rhodesian Special Air Services SNDP Second National Development Plan SB Rhodesian Special Branch SRANC Southern Rhodesian African National Congress SWA South West Africa SWANU South West African National Union SWAPO South West African People‘s Organisation TAZAMA Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta TAZARA Tanzania-Zambia Railways x © University of Pretoria UANC United African National Council UDENAMO Uniao Democratica Nacional de Mocambique UDI Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia) UK United Kingdom UN United Nations UNAMI Uniao Nacional Africana de Mocambique Independente UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNIP United National Independence Party UNIA Universal Negro Improvement Association UNITA
Load more

Recommended publications
  • From Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.Pdf
    THE S.A. ' "!T1!TE OF INTERNATIONAL AFi -! NOT "(C :.-_ .^ FROM RHODESIA TO ZIMBABWE Ah Analysis of the 1980 Elections and an Assessment of the Prospects Martyn Gregory OCCASIONAL. PAPER GELEEIMTHEIOSPUBUKASIE DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE INSTITUUT MN INTERNASIONALE AANGELEENTHEDE THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Martyn Gregory* the author of this report, is a postgraduate research student,at Leicester University in Britain, working on # : thesis, entitled "International Politics of the Conflict in Rhodesia". He recently spent two months in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, : during the pre- and post-election period, as a Research Associate at the University of Rhodesia (now the University of Zimbabwe). He travelled widely throughout the country and interviewed many politicians, officials and military personnel. He also spent two weeks with the South African Institute of International Affairs at Smuts House in Johannesburg. The author would like to thank both, the University of Zimbabwe and the Institute for assistance in the preparation of this report, as well as the British Social Science Research Council which financed his visit to Rhodesia* The Institute wishes to express its appreciation to Martyn Gregory for his co-operation and his willingness to prepare this detailed report on the Zimbabwe elections and their implications for publication by the Institute. It should be noted that any opinions expressed in this report are the responsibility of the author and not of the Institute. FROM RHODESIA TO ZIMBABWE: an analysis of the 1980 elections and an assessment of the prospects Martyn Gregory Contents Introduction .'. Page 1 Paving the way to Lancaster House .... 1 The Ceasefire Arrangement 3 Organization of the Elections (i) Election Machinery 5 (i i) Voting Systems 6 The White Election 6 The Black Election (i) Contesting Parties 7 (ii) Manifestos and the Issues .
    [Show full text]
  • Author Accepted Manuscript
    University of Dundee Campaigning against apartheid Graham, Matthew Published in: Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History DOI: 10.1080/03086534.2018.1506871 Publication date: 2018 Document Version Peer reviewed version Link to publication in Discovery Research Portal Citation for published version (APA): Graham, M. (2018). Campaigning against apartheid: The rise, fall and legacies of the South Africa United Front 1960-1962. Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 46(6), 1148-1170. https://doi.org/10.1080/03086534.2018.1506871 General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in Discovery Research Portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from Discovery Research Portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain. • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 27. Sep. 2021 Campaigning against apartheid: The rise, fall and legacies of the South Africa United Front 1960- 1962 Matthew Graham University of Dundee Research Associate at the International Studies Group, University of the Free State, South Africa Correspondence: School of Humanities, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN. [email protected] 01382 388628 Acknowledgements I’d like to thank the anonymous peer-reviewers for offering helpful and constructive comments and guidance on this article.
    [Show full text]
  • Economy and Globalization in Zambia
    Economy and Globalization in Zambia At the time of independence, Zambia was expected to become of the wealthiest nations in Africa. With access to raw materials such as copper and land, Zambia seemed to have all it needed to succeed in the global economy. However, it is now one of the world’s poorest nations. So how did this dramatic change take place in less than 30 years? Much of Africa has experienced economic decline in the past decades. How does Zambia’s situation compare to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and how is it affected by the geographic context in which it exists? Examining the economic situation and Zambia’s place in the global economy will help these questions to be understood. Lusaka, Zambia Zambia is a land-locked country located in central Africa. About the size of Texas, it is home to 11 million people. The population is made up of a variety of ethnic groups, most of whom speak Bantu. Zambia is currently one of the poorest countries in Africa, and is identified by the United Nations Development Program as a HIPC – Highly Indebted Poor Country. “Lusaka is the product of a country battling to find its way in a new world, caught between colonial beginnings, years of socialist independence and now democracy.” -Zambian National Tourist Board Lusaka became the capital of Zambia in 1930 but growth really took place in the 1960’s. The Lusaka City Council describes the city as a metropolis home to 2.5 million people. Lusaka is constantly changing. New shops are being built, and a multi-million dollar shopping mall is being constructed.
    [Show full text]
  • Governing Extractive Industries: Politics, Histories, Ideas
    OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/5/2018, SPi Governing Extractive Industries OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/5/2018, SPi OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/5/2018, SPi Governing Extractive Industries Politics, Histories, Ideas Anthony Bebbington, Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai, Denise Humphreys Bebbington, Marja Hinfelaar, and Cynthia A. Sanborn with Jessica Achberger, Celina Grisi Huber, Verónica Hurtado, Tania Ramírez, and Scott D. Odell 1 OUP CORRECTED PROOF – FINAL, 25/5/2018, SPi 3 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, United Kingdom Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries © Anthony Bebbington, Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai, Denise Humphreys Bebbington, Marja Hinfelaar, and Cynthia A. Sanborn 2018 The moral rights of the authors have been asserted First Edition published in 2018 Impression: 1 Some rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, for commercial purposes, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by licence or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. This is an open access publication, available online and distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial – No Derivatives 4.0 International
    [Show full text]
  • NKRUMAH, Kwame
    Howard University Digital Howard @ Howard University Manuscript Division Finding Aids Finding Aids 10-1-2015 NKRUMAH, Kwame MSRC Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://dh.howard.edu/finaid_manu Recommended Citation Staff, MSRC, "NKRUMAH, Kwame" (2015). Manuscript Division Finding Aids. 149. https://dh.howard.edu/finaid_manu/149 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Finding Aids at Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Manuscript Division Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 BIOGRAPHICAL DATA Kwame Nkrumah 1909 September 21 Born to Kobina Nkrumah and Kweku Nyaniba in Nkroful, Gold Coast 1930 Completed four year teachers' course at Achimota College, Accra 1930-1935 Taught at Catholic schools in the Gold Coast 1939 Received B.A. degree in economics and sociology from Lincoln University, Oxford, Pennsylvania. Served as President of the African Students' Association of America and Canada while enrolled 1939-1943 Taught history and African languages at Lincoln University 1942 Received S.T.B. [Bachelor of Theology degree] from Lincoln Theological Seminary 1942 Received M.S. degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania 1943 Received A.M. degree in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania 1945-1947 Lived in London. Attended London School of Economics for one semester. Became active in pan-Africanist politics 1947 Returned to Gold Coast and became General Secretary of the United Gold Coast Convention 1949 Founded the Convention Peoples' Party (C.P.P.) 2 1949 Publication of What I Mean by Positive Action 1950-1951 Imprisoned on charge of sedition and of fomenting an illegal general strike 1951 February Elected Leader of Government Business of the Gold Coast 1951 Awarded Honorary LL.D.
    [Show full text]
  • AFRICAN HISTORIOGRAPHY: from Colonial Historiography to UNESCO's General History of Africa
    AFRICAN HISTORIOGRAPHY: From colonial historiography to UNESCO's general history of Africa Bethwell A. Ogot Since the later 19th century, the study of African history has undergone radical changes. From about 1885 to the end of the Second World War, most of Africa was under the yoke of colonialism; and hence colonial historiography held sway. According to this imperial historiography, Africa had no history and therefore the Africans were a people without history. They propagated the image of Africa as a 'dark continent'. Any historical process or movement in the conti­ nent was explained as the work of outsiders, whether these be the mythical Hamites or the Caucasoids. Consequently, African history was for the most part seen as the history of Europeans in Africa - a part of the historical progress and development of Western Europe and an appendix of the national history of the metropolis. It was argued at the time that Africa had no history because history begins with writing and thus with the arrival of the Europeans. Their presence in Africa was therefore justified, among other things, by their ability to place Africa in the 'path of history'. Colonialism was celebrated as a 'civilising mission' carried out by European traders, missionaries and administrators.! Thus African historiography was closely linked with the colonial period and its own official historiography, with prejudices acquired and disseminated as historical knowiedge, and with eurocentric assumptions and arrogant certainty. Social Darwinism accorded Europeans an innate superiority over other peoples and justified Europe's plunder of the rest of the world. But even during the dark days of colonialism there were other historians, for example the traditional historians, African historians educated in the West and Western colonial critics sueh as Basil Davidson, who were writing different African or colonial histories.
    [Show full text]
  • Tears of Rain: Etnicity and History in Central Western Zambia
    Tears of Rain Monographs from the African Studies Centre, Leiden Tears of Rain Ethnicity and history in central western Zambia Wim van Binsbergen Kegan Paul International London and New York INTERNET VERSION, 2004 the pagination in this version differs from that of the original printed version of 1992; the indexes have not been adjusted accordingly To Patricia First published in 1990 by Kegan Paul International Limited PO Box 256, London WC1B 3SW Distributed by International Thomson Publishing Services Ltd North Way, Andover, Hants SP10 5BE England Routledge, Chapman and Hall Inc. 29 West 35th Street New York, NY 10001 USA The Canterbury Press Pty Ltd Unit 2, 71 Rushdale Street Scoresby, Victoria 3179 Australia Produced by W. Goar Klein Set in Times by W. Goar Klein/Z-Work Gouda, The Netherlands and printed in Great Britain by T J Press (Padstow) Ltd Cornwall © Afrika-Studiecentrum 1992 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Binsbergen, Wim M.J. van Tears of Rain: ethnicity and history in central western Zambia. – (Monographs from the African Studies Centre, Leiden) Title II. Series 305.86894 ISBN 071030434X US Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Binsbergen. Wim M.J. van. Tears of Rain: ethnicity and history in central western Zambia / Wim van Binsbergen xxii + 495 p. 21.6 cm. – (Monographs from the African Studies Centre, Leiden) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7103-0434-X Likota lya Bankoya–Criticism. Textual.
    [Show full text]
  • Abel Muzorewa's Security F and After the War of Liber
    ABEL MUZOREWA’S SECURITY FORCE AUXILIARIES (SFA s) DURING AND AFTER THE WAR OF LIBERATION IN HURUNGWE DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE Being a thesis submitted to the Department of History, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe in fulfil ment of the requirements of a Doctor of Philosophy By CHAKAWA JOSHUA Registration Number: R0644595 Supervisors: Professors N M. Bhebe and S J Ndlovu -Gatsheni November 2015 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to my academic supervisors namely; Professors N M Bhebe and S J Ndlovu- Gatsheni. You greatly assisted me with the relevant expertise, patience and advice to make this thesis a reality. Many thanks also go to members of the History Department at Midlands State University, especially Dr G Mazarire, Dr T Mashingaidze, Mr G Tarugarira, Mrs D Goredema, Mr Chisi and Dr V Z Nyawo-Shava. I should also acknowledge Dr T Javangwe and Mr I Choto for editing and proof-reading this thesis. Mr Muchefa at the National Archives of Zimbabwe did a splendid job in helping me to locate correct files for the thesis. My study at MSU was made possible by the generous financial assistance which I got from the institution. Many thanks go to the Vice Chancellor himself who initiated that whole process and Professor D Z Moyo who implemented it. I was also supported by many friends and relatives. Lastly, I wish to give my sincere acknowledgements to all those who took their time to be interviewed. ii DEDICATION To my teacher and mentor Never Kapungu and the late Michael Chakawa for encouraging me to specialize in History.
    [Show full text]
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer
    Edinburgh Research Explorer “Through the Narrow Door” Citation for published version: Karekwaivanane, G 2016, '“Through the Narrow Door”: Narratives of the First Generation of African Lawyers in Zimbabwe’', Africa, vol. 86, no. 1, pp. 59-77. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0001972015000789 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1017/S0001972015000789 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Peer reviewed version Published In: Africa General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 02. Oct. 2021 ‘THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR’: NARRATIVES OF THE FIRST GENERATION OF AFRICAN LAWYERS IN ZIMBABWE George H. Karekwaivanane ABSTRACT Given the important role played by lawyers in formal legal systems, the study of legal professionals can help us understand the efforts to maintain law and social order in Africa. This article examines the narratives of two Zimbabwean lawyers, Kennedy Sibanda and Honour Mkushi, about their experiences as legal professionals between 1970 and 1990, and makes three main arguments. Firstly, these narratives are revealing of the complex interplay between individual agency, politics and law across the two decades.
    [Show full text]
  • A South African Diary: Contested Identity, My Family - Our Story
    How many bones must you bury before you can call yourself an African? Updated February 2012 A South African Diary: Contested Identity, My Family - Our Story Part F: 1975 - 1986 Compiled by: Dr. Anthony Turton [email protected] Caution in the use and interpretation of these data This document consists of events data presented in chronological order. It is designed to give the reader an insight into the complex drivers at work over time, by showing how many events were occurring simultaneously. It is also designed to guide future research by serious scholars, who would verify all data independently as a matter of sound scholarship and never accept this as being valid in its own right. Read together, they indicate a trend, whereas read in isolation, they become sterile facts devoid of much meaning. Given that they are “facts”, their origin is generally not cited, as a fact belongs to nobody. On occasion where an interpretation is made, then the commentator’s name is cited as appropriate. Where similar information is shown for different dates, it is because some confusion exists on the exact detail of that event, so the reader must use caution when interpreting it, because a “fact” is something over which no alternate interpretation can be given. These events data are considered by the author to be relevant, based on his professional experience as a trained researcher. Own judgement must be used at all times . All users are urged to verify these data independently. The individual selection of data also represents the author’s bias, so the dataset must not be regarded as being complete.
    [Show full text]
  • Article in PDF Format
    Nordic Journal of African Studies 10(2): 224-244 (2001) Colonial Legacy and the Role of Society in the Creation and Demise of Autocracy in Zambia, 1964-1991 BIZECK J. PHIRI University of Zambia, Zambia ABSTRACT This paper explores the origin, growth and demise of autocracy in post-independence Zambia from a macro-historical perspective. It is argued that the underlying dynamic, which gradually turned Zambia into a virtual autocracy after its independence in 1964, stems from its colonial past, although augmented by the Zambians themselves. It is shown how emerging hero- worship within the dominant United National Independence Party (UNIP) turned the country’s first president, with the support of the people, into an autocrat. In the 1980’s the autocracy started to seriously crumble in the face of food riots and rising unemployment resulting from a deepening economic depression. It is concluded that, despite the return to a multi-party state in 1991, there are strong indications that this newly found democracy is already being undermined by the same dynamic that led to autocracy in the first place. [Ed.] Keywords: autocracy, colonialism, United Independence Party INTRODUCTION The one-party state system of government in post-independence Zambia, and indeed elsewhere, was perceived as a form of dictatorship. Yet, scholars were merely content to comment on the shortcomings of this system of government. Its origins were generally explained away as part and parcel of the intransigence of political parties that assumed political power at independence. Little was said about the impact of the colonial past, and indeed, the role of society in influencing the political direction of post-independence Zambia.
    [Show full text]
  • ANNUAL REPORT I. Nineteen-Sixty Was a Year of Tremendous
    AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT I. Nineteen-sixty was a year of tremendous importance for Africa. Even as late as the 1a tter part of 1959 it was prophesied that only four states would become independent during 1960. Before 1960 there were nine independent countries {excluding the Union of South Africa) and it seemed that the year 1960 would end t~ith only 12 independent states on the continent. Actually 17 · new cout..tries were born in "Africa 1 s Year 11 , and the nations in the African bloc .in the United Nations rose to twent,r-five in number, Mauritania having become independent, but not yet voted into the United Nations. Thus African countries became the largest single group of nations in the United Nations. Both because of the number of African states in the United Nations and because of the urgency of developments on the African continent, the Fifteenth Session of the United Nations General Assembly was almost dominated by issues relating to Africa and colonialism. First, and of most importe.nce, was the crisis that developed in the Congo following independence on June 30th~ The pc1-rer vacuum which developed in the Congo because. of the lack of unity among the African leaders there, because of the divisions which existed among the African states, and beacuse of the relative ineffectiveness of the United Nations to fill the vacuum, for the first time permit ted the cold war to enter Africa in a significant way. Secondly, the killing of 72 1.mar~d Africans in the town of Sharpeville in South Africa by armed troops and soldiers brought the South African trageqy forcefully to the attention of the world and added urgency to the debates on apartheid at the United Nations.
    [Show full text]