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History of Zambia (1964–present): Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
History of Zambia (1964–present) (view source)
Revision as of 15:15, 13 October 2016
, 13 October 2016→Chiluba: 1991- 2002
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Before the [[1996 presidential election]] an amendment is added to the constitution requiring candidates to have parents who were native Zambians (Kaunda's were born in Malawi). In 1997 an opposition rally was fired on by police and Kaunda was slightly wounded. Later in the same year he is accused of having abetted an abortive military coup. He was placed under house arrest, but was released in June 1998 when all charges were withdrawn. In November 1999 Kaunda's son Wezi, prominent in UNIP, was assassinated (why or by whom is not known). Meanwhile in 1996 Chiluba is re- elected to the presidency for the second of the two consecutive terms allowed in the constitution. And the MMD increases its majority from 125 to 127 seats in the national assembly. | Before the [[1996 presidential election]] an amendment is added to the constitution requiring candidates to have parents who were native Zambians (Kaunda's were born in Malawi). In 1997 an opposition rally was fired on by police and Kaunda was slightly wounded. Later in the same year he is accused of having abetted an abortive military coup. He was placed under house arrest, but was released in June 1998 when all charges were withdrawn. In November 1999 Kaunda's son Wezi, prominent in UNIP, was assassinated (why or by whom is not known). Meanwhile in 1996 Chiluba is re- elected to the presidency for the second of the two consecutive terms allowed in the constitution. And the MMD increases its majority from 125 to 127 seats in the national assembly. | ||
===Coups and emergencies=== | |||
In 1993 the government-owned newspaper ''[[The Times of Zambia]]'' reported a story about a secret UNIP plan to take control of government by unconstitutional means, called the "Zero Operation Plan". The plan included industrial unrest, promotion of violence and organisations of mass protests. UNIP did not deny the existence of such a plan, but underlined that it was not a part of their official policy, but the views of extremists within the party. The government responded by declaring a [[state of emergency]] and putting 26 people into detention. Of these, seven, including Kenneth Kaunda's son [[Wezi Kaunda]] were charged with offences against the security of the state. The rest were released.<ref name="HRW">{{cite web | |||
| title = Zambia - Elections and Human Rights in the Third Republic | |||
| url = http://hrw.org/reports/1996/Zambia.htm#P165_20378 | |||
| publisher = Human Rights Watch | |||
| accessdate = 2006-10-16 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
Prior to the [[Zambian general election, 1996|1996 elections]], UNIP formed an alliance with six other opposition parties. Kenneth Kaunda had earlier retired from politics, but after internal turbulence in the party due to the "Zero Operation Plan" scandal, he returned, replacing his own successor [[Kebby Musokotwane]]. Chiluba's government then amended the constitution, banning people whose parents were not both Zambian citizens from becoming president. This was directly aimed at Kaunda, whose parents were both from [[Malawi]]. In protest UNIP and its allies boycotted the elections, which were then easily won by Chiluba and the MMD. | |||
In 1997 matters escalated. On 28 October a [[1997 Zambian coup d'état attempt|coup d'état attempt]] took place, as a group of army commanders took control over the national radio station, broadcasting a message stating that Chiluba was no longer president. The coup was brought to an end by regular forces, after Chiluba had again declared a state of emergency. One person was killed during the operation. After the failed coup the police arrested at least 84 people accused of involvement.<ref name="BBC1">{{cite web | |||
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/32668.stm | |||
| title = Zambia holding 84 over coup bid | |||
| publisher = BBC | |||
| accessdate = 2006-10-16 | date=1997-11-18}}</ref> Among these were Kenneth Kaunda and [[Dean Mungomba]], leader of the opposition party the [[Zambia Democratic Congress]]. The arrests were condemned and criticised as illegal inside as well as outside Zambia, and accusations of [[torture]] were made as well.<ref name="BBC2">{{cite web | |||
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/24963.stm | |||
| title = Zambia 'tortured coup suspects' | |||
| publisher = BBC | |||
| accessdate = 2006-10-16 }}</ref> Kaunda was released in June the following year, but 44 of the soldiers who took part in the coup were sentenced to [[death penalty|death]] in 2003.<ref name="AI">{{cite web | |||
| url = http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR630022003?open&of=ENG-ZMB | |||
| title = Zambia: Forty-four soldiers to be executed | |||
| publisher = Amnesty | |||
| accessdate = 2006-10-16}}</ref> | |||
====2001 elections==== | |||
Prior to the [[Zambian general election, 2001|elections in 2001]] Chiluba tried to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. He was forced to step back on this point after protest from within the party as well as from the Zambian public. | |||
==Mwanawasa: 2002-2008== | ==Mwanawasa: 2002-2008== | ||
