The Lumpa Church: Its Socio-Economic Impact in Lundazi
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
THE LUMPA CHURCH: ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT IN LUNDAZI DISTRICT IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA, 1955-1995 BY ELIJAH MUNGA A Dissertation Submitted to the University of Zambia in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA LUSAKA © 2016 DECLARATION I, Elijah Munga, declare that this dissertation (a) Represents my own work; (b) Has not previously been submitted for a degree at this or any other University; and (c) Does not incorporate any published work or material from another dissertation. Signed …………………………………………………………………………………….. Date ……………………………………………………………………………………... i COPYRIGHT All rights reserved. No part of this dissertation may be reproduced or stored in any form or by any means without prior permission in writing from the author or the University of Zambia. ii APPROVAL This dissertation of Elijah Munga is approved as fulfilling the partial requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in History by the University of Zambia. Signed ……………………………………………. Date …………………………….. Signed ……………………………………………. Date …………………………….. Signed ……………………………………………. Date …………………………….. iii ABSTRACT This study focuses on the socio-economic impact of the Lumpa Church in Lundazi district in Eastern Province of Zambia from 1955 to 1995. It reveals that the church spread to the district in about 1955. The study shows that the church members spread the church in the district by preaching its beliefs and values. This was necessitated by the proximity of the area to Chinsali district, the headquarters of the church. This study demonstrates that the Lumpa Church activities had both positive and negative socio-economic impacts in the district. The construction of Lumpa Church buildings contributed to infrastructure development. The promotion of moral values, led to a reduction in, among other things, beer drinking, polygamy and witchcraft. The study concludes that the existence of the church in the district made many people to disregard both civil and traditional authority. The 1964 bedlam led to the destruction of life and property, poverty and hunger as well as the emergence of over 5,000 refugees in the district. Also, the district lost revenue before, during and after the 1964 war. The study further concludes that the government and other organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) introduced some socio-economic mitigation measures in order to cushion the negative impact of the church’s activities in the district. Headmen were warned and fined for coercing their subjects to become Lumpas. During and after the 1964 war, security, food, clothes, health care and transport were provided to the affected people in the district. Many affected people, orphans inclusive, were rehabilitated. Also, to revamp agricultural production, some affected peasant farmers were provided with seeds and fertilizers. Conversely, such provisions were inadequate. Also, the Zambian government collaborated with the governments of Malawi and the Congo in order to help ex-Lumpa refugees resettle in various parts of Zambia by 1995. iv DEDICATION I dedicate this piece of work to my mother, Tisaine Phiri, my late father, Whyson E. Munga, and all my siblings. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I give praise and honour to the Almighty God for his guidance and good health during my study, both at taught and dissertation writing stages. It is also worth noting that this work culminates from my undergraduate mini-dissertation on the subject. Special thanks go to my supervisor, Prof. M.C. Musambachime, for the guidance he gave to me during my study. I also thank the History M.A programme coordinator, Prof. B.J. Phiri, for the guidance during the taught part of the programme and other members of staff at the University of Zambia, Department of Historical and Archaeological Studies, for helping me shape my topic during the presentation of the research proposal for this dissertation and encouragements when writing it. Furthermore, I thank my mother, Tisaine Phiri, all my siblings for their moral and spiritual support. I am also indebted to staff at various institutions that facilitated the conduct of my research. I thank the staff of the Special Collections Section of the University of Zambia Main Library, the National Archives of Zambia (NAZ) in Lusaka, Faith Encounter Centre of Zambia (FENZA) Library in Lusaka, the National Assembly Library in Lusaka and the Livingstone Museum, all of whom lightened my research burden by locating and availing to me various sources that I used in this study. Finally, I am greatly indebted to my course mates for their encouragements during the study, Mr. Satiel Tembo for being my translator during field work, Mr. Alex Musanya, Lumpa Church Lawyer, for allowing me to interview some ex-Lumpa Church members as well as all the interviewees including Mr. Alexander Grey Zulu, Chief Mphamba, Hon. Mukhondo Lungu, Hon. Isaac Banda, Hon. Dr. Effron Lungu and Bishop London Mtonga. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Declaration …………………………………………………………………………………… i Copyright …………………………………………………………………………………… ii Approval …………………………………………………………………………………… iii Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………… iv Dedication …………………………………………………………………………………… v Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………………… vi Table of Contents ……………...…………………………………………………………… vii Abbreviations ……………………………………………………………………………… ix List of Figures …..………………………………………………………………………… xi List of Maps………………………………………………………………………………… xii List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………… xiii List of Places ……………………………………………………………………………… xiv Chapter One: Introduction and Historical Background ……………………………………… 1 Chapter Two: The Spread of the Lumpa Church to Lundazi district ……………………… 27 Chapter Three: Socio-Economic Impact of the Lumpa Church …………………………… 52 Chapter Four: Socio-Economic Mitigation Measures ……………………………………… 90 Chapter Five: Conclusion ………………………………………………………………… 122 vii Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………… 129 Appendix 1………………………………………………………………………………… 143 Appendix 2………………………………………………………………………………… 144 viii ABBREVIATIONS AICs ………………………………………………………… African Independent Churches ANC ……………………………………………………………… African National Congress AFIF ……………………………………………… Agriculture Farming Improvement Fund BOMA …………………………………………….. British Overseas Military Administration CID …………………………………………………….…… Criminal Investigation Division CMML ………………………………………………… Christian Missions in Many Lands COY …………………………………………………….………………………… Company DC …………………………………………………………………… District Commissioner DPP …………………………………………………………… Director of Public Prosecution DRC ………………………………………………………… Democratic Republic of Congo DSW ………………………………………………………… Department of Social Welfare FENZA ………………………………..…………………..… Faith and Encounter in Zambia LEA ………………………………..…………………..………… Local Education Authority LMS ………………………………………………………………London Missionary Society MMD ………………………………..……………… Movement for Multi-Party Democracy MBE ……………………………………………………………Member of the British Empire NAZ ……...…………………………………………………… National Archives of Zambia NRAF ………………………………………………………… Northern Rhodesia Air Force NRR …………………………………………………………… Northern Rhodesia Regiment ix PROVOPS ………………………………………………… Provincial Operations Committee UN …………………………………………………………………………… United Nations UNIP …………………………………………………… United National Independence Party UNHCR …………………………………… United Nations High Commission for Refugees UTUC …………………………………………………………United Trades Union Congress WFP ………………………………………………………………… World Food Programme x LIST OF FIGURES Page No. Figure 1 ……………………………………… Alice Mulenga Lenshina Lubusha. 2 Figure 2 ……………………………………… The Kamutola Cathedral at Sione. 8 Figure 3 ………………… Massacre Victims at Paishuko Village, 7 August, 1964. 77 xi LIST OF MAPS Page No. Map 1 …………………………………… Location of Lundazi district in Zambia. 9 Map 2 ……………………………… Lundazi district and its Neighbouring areas. 9 Map 3 ……………… Areas Most Affected by government-Lumpa Church attacks. 74 xii LIST OF TABLES Page no. Table 1 ……………… Lumpa Church Established Population by the late 1950s. 4 Table 2 ………………… Schedule of cases in Chikwa’s court, third quarter, 1957. 57 Table 3 ……… Attendance Figures at Chifunda: Local Education Authority, 1955. 61 Table 4 …………. Attendance Figures at Chifunda Lower Primary School, 1957. 63 Table 5 …………… Revenue Obtained and Visitors Accommodated during 1964. 87 xiii LIST OF PLACES A. Names of Towns Old New Abercorn ………………………………...……………………………………… Mbala Broken Hill ……………………………………………..……………………… Kabwe Fort Jameson ………………………………………………………………… Chipata Salisbury ……………………………………………….……………………… Harare B. Names of Countries Old New Congo Leopoldville/Congo Kinsansha/Zaire… Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Northern Rhodesia ………………………………………………………… Zambia Nyasaland ………………………………………………………………… Malawi Southern Rhodesia ………………………………………………………… Zimbabwe Tanganyika …………………………………………… United Republic of Tanzania xiv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND African Independent Churches (AICs), also known as Separatist Churches established themselves firmly on the African continent by the middle of the 20th century. In Southern Africa, the development of AICs started earlier among the Xhosa in South Africa who fought for an indigenised church. By the end of the 20th Century, AICs had spread all over Africa.1 Some of the countries where the independent churches became common included Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In Northern Rhodesia, two AICs became prominent and these were the Mutima (the Sacred Heart) led by Emilio Mulolani and the Lumpa Church