MULTIPARTISM AND THE MATRILINEAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM OF THE BEMBA SPEAKING PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA: AN AFRICAN THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE BY SIMON MUWOWO THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR (PhD) IN THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA SUPERVISOR: PROF. VUYANI VELLEM APRIL 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Table of Contents............................................................................................................i Declaration.....................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................ix Dedication........................................................................................................................xi Abstract...........................................................................................................................xii Abbreviations..................................................................................................................xiv Glossary of terms……………………………………………………………………………..xvi A list of key words.........................................................................................................xviii 1. Chapter One: Introduction 1.1. Preliminary Remarks.................................................................................1 1.2. Background to the Problem.......................................................................6 1.3. The Problem..............................................................................................8 1.4. Research Objectives..................................................................................8 1.5. Main argument...........................................................................................9 1.6. How it is argued........................................................................................13 1.7. Hypothesis................................................................................................15 1.8. Methodology..............................................................................................15 1.9. Contribution...............................................................................................16 1.10. Limitation...................................................................................................16 1.11. Scope........................................................................................................17 i 2. Chapter Two: Multiparty Democracy: Unpacking meanings and Perspectives 2.1. Introduction..............................................................................................17 2.2. Multiparty Democracy: The root meanings...............................................20 2.2.1. General etymological perspectives of the concept of Multiparty Democracy.....................................................................................................20 2.2.2. Multiparty Democracy: the Secular perspectives...........................................24 2.2.3. Multiparty Democracy: The Christian perspectives........................................27 2.2.4. An evaluation of the definitions and perspectives..........................................29 2.3. Party Systems in Africa............................................................................29 2.4. Political parties and democracy in Africa……………………………………33 2.5. Democracy and Democratic Development................................................35 2.6. Democratic Systems.................................................................................36 2.7. Democracy and development :Outlining the terms of relationship………37 2.8. Modernization Theory and the emergence of Democracy.......................39 2.8.1. Democracy and development: First Argument...............................................39 2.8.2. Democracy and development: Second Argument.........................................41 2.8.3. Democracy and Development Inconclusive findings......................................43 2.8.4. The case for Democracy................................................................................45 2.8.5. Democracy and Culture..................................................................................45 2.9. Summery and conclusion..........................................................................47 3. Chapter Three: Zambia’s Experience of Multipartism ( 1964-1973;1991- 2011) 3.1. Introduction...............................................................................................51 3.2. Multipartism in Zambia in Historical perspective......................................52 3.3. The experience of Multipartism in the First Republic, 1964-1973............54 3.4. Abolition of Multipartism and the formation of a one party State..............57 3.5. The experience of Multipartism 1991-2011.............................................59 3.6. The Reality of Multiparty Democracy in Zambia.......................................62 3.6.1. Politics of Tribe from Kaunda to Banda..........................................................69 3.7. Assessing Multiparty Democracy 1991-2011............................................72 ii 3.7.1 Zambia’s context of Multiparty Democracy in Praxis........................................74 3.7.2. History of Political Parties in Zambia since the re- introduction of Multipartism in 1991…………………………………………………………………………………….76 3.7.3. Tribal and Religious aspects……………………………………………………79 3.7.4. The MMD and incumbency 1991-2011………………………………………...80 3.7.5. Donor support to opposition political parties……………………………………82 3.7.6. Weaknesses of opposition political parties in Zambia.....................................83 3.7.7. Political parties in parliament...........................................................................84 3.7.8. Capacity to campaign......................................................................................87 3.7.9. Respect for democracy and Human rights......................................................88 3.7.10. Corruption in Political Parties and political actors.........................................88 3.7.11. Fictionalization of Parties..............................................................................90 3.7.12 Parties in Government....................................................................................90 3.7.13. Ethnicity.........................................................................................................92 3.8. Summary and Conclusion..................................................................................94 4. Chapter Four: The Bemba Speaking people in historical perspective. 4.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………..95 4.2. The Bemba speaking people…………………………………………………96 4.2.1. The Origin…………………………………………………………………………..96 4.2.2. Formation of the Bemba tribe…………………………………………………….98 4.2.3. Establishment……………………………………………………………………103 4.2.4. Handing over power to Chilufya Mulenga as first Chitimukulu………………104 4.3. Life Style and Identity………………………………………………………..104 4.3.1. Background of the Bemba Economic systems……………………………….104 iii 4.3.2. The economic activities of the Bemba in historical perspective…………….105 4.4. Distinctive marks of the Bemba Speaking people……………………….108 4.5. The Social grouping of the Bemba Speaking people…………………….109 4.5.1. Kinship…………………………………………………………………………….110 4.5.2. Clan………………………………………………………………………………..111 4.6. Local Organization………………………………………………………….113 4.6.1. Village……………………………………………………………………………. 113 4.6.2. The Bemba Territory…………………………………………………………….115 4.6.3. Social Classes……………………………………………………………………117 4.6.4. Other forms of social groupings in Bemba society……………………………119 4.7. The Bemba Doctrine of Succession…………………………………….....120 4.7.1. Formation of a child and identity………………………………………………..120 4.7.2. The influence of the dead over the living………………………………………121 4.8. The Basis of authority in Bemba Society…………………………………..122 4.8.1. The Headman…………………………………………………………………….122 4.8.2. The Chief………………………………………………………………………….124 4.8.3. The Priests………………………………………………………………………..125 4.8.4. Rain Makers………………………………………………………………………126 4.8.5. Medicine Men and Women……………………………………………………..126 4.9. Administrative Officers………………………………………………………127 4.9.1. Keeping the peace of the villages and chieftainships……………………….127 4.9.2. Organizing Tribute labour……………………………………………………...128 4.9.3. Allocating land for new villages and for farming………………………………128 4.9.4. Arranging Hospitality…………………………………………………………….128 4.9.5. Messengers of the Chief………………………………………………………..128 4.9.6. Apprehending criminals…………………………………………………………129 4.10. Military personnel……………………………………………………………129 4.11. Judicially………………………………………………………………………129 4.12. Advisory……………………………………………………………………….130 4.12.1. The Advisory committee of the sub-chief………………………………….131 4.12.2. The Advisory committee of the territorial Chief……………………………131 iv 4.12.3. The Advisory committee of the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu………….131 4.13. Duties of Councillors…………………………………………………………132 4.13.1. Ritual…………………………………………………………………………..132 4.14. Summary and Conclusion…………………………………………………..132 5. Chapter Five: The Bemba matrilineal governance system as a basis for a sustainable democratic model of governance by consensus in Zambia 5.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………135 5.2. Point of Departure……………………………………………………………138 5.3. The political governance system of the Bemba…………………………..139 5.4.