Patriotic Front (PF): Difference between revisions

From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Political party
{{Infobox political party
|name           = Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD)
|name = Patriotic Front
|leader        = [[Nevers Mumba]]
|colorcode =  {{Patriotic Front (Zambia)/meta/color}}
|logo          = [[File:Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.jpg|175px]]
|logo = [[Patriotic Front Zambia Logo.jpg]]
|president      =  
|leader = [[Edgar Lungu]] (Party President)
|chairperson    =
|foundation = {{start date|2001}}
|spokesperson  =  
|ideology = [[Democratic socialism]]
|leader1_name  =
|position = [[Right-wing]]
|leader2_name  =
|international = [[Socialist International]] (consultative)
|leader3_name  =
|colours = [[Blue]] and [[white]]
|dissolution    =
|headquarters = [[Farmer House (Lusaka)|Farmer House]], Cairo Road, [[Lusaka]]
|newspaper      =
|youth_wing    =
|membership_year=
|colorcode = #3BADF3
|ideology      = [[Social democracy]]<br>[[Third Way]]<br>[[Progressivism]]
|position      = [[Centre-left]]
|seats1_title = [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]]
|seats1_title = [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]]
|seats1 = {{Composition bar|55|157|hex=#3BADF3}}
|seats1 = {{Composition bar|60|158|hex={{Patriotic Front (Zambia)/meta/color}}}}
|seats2_title = [[Pan African Parliament]]
|seats2_title = [[Pan African Parliament]]
|seats2 = {{Composition bar|1|5|hex=#3BADF3}}
|seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|5|hex={{Patriotic Front (Zambia)/meta/color}}}}
|country = Zambia
|website = [http://www.pf.org.zm/ www.pf.org.zm]
}}
}}


The '''Movement for Multi-party Democracy''' (MMD) is a [[political party]] in [[Zambia]]. Originally formed to oust the previous government, MMD controlled an absolute majority in parliament between 1991 and 2001, when its past leader, [[Frederick Chiluba]] was President of Zambia. Its election into power in 1991 ended the 27-year rule of President [[Kenneth Kaunda]] and his [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP). It remained the dominant party within Zambian politics until the [[Zambian general election, 2011|general elections of September 2011]]. It is a centre-left political party.
The '''Patriotic Front''' (PF) is the ruling political party in [[Zambia]]. The party was formed by [[Michael Sata]] as a breakaway party of the [[Movement for Multiparty Democracy|MMD]] in 2001 after the then-president [[Frederick Chiluba]] nominated [[Levy Mwanawasa]] as the MMD's presidential candidate for 2001 elections. After several years as an opposition party the PF gained power in the [[Zambian general election, 2011|2011 general elections]]. The party is a consultative member of [[Socialist International]], having been admitted in February 2013.<ref>[http://www.socialistinternational.org/images/dynamicImages/files/Council%20decisions-1.pdf Decisions of the Council] Socialist International</ref>


==History==
==Formation==
===Formation and government===
The Patriotic Front was formed as a political party in 2001. In 2000, after [[Frederick Chiluba|Chiluba]] lost a bid to change the [[constitution]] to allow him to stand for third term, Michael Sata thought he would be endorsed as the MMD presidential candidate. The answer was given in 2001 when Chiluba noted that none of those (including Sata) who were in his government at the time were capable of winning the elections. At a secret ballot, Chiluba personally nominated Mwanawasa and voted for him to be the presidential candidate.<ref>[http://www.africafiles.org/printableversion.asp?id=17065 Presidential term limits in Africa by Daniel Vencovsky] AfricaFiles</ref> Angered by this turn of events, Sata quit the MMD and founded the PF.<ref>[http://www.sardc.net/en/southern-african-news-features/who-will-be-zambias-next-president/ Who will be Zambia’s next president?] SARDC, September 2008</ref> At the same time, notable figures like [[Christon Tembo]], [[Godfrey Miyanda]] and [[Edith Nawakwi]] formed the [[Forum for Democracy and Development]] Party (FDD). Sata became leader of the PF and was its presidential candidate for the [[Zambian general election, 2001|2001 general elections]]; he received 3.4% of the vote, finishing seventh out of the eleven candidates. In the [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]] elections the party received 2.8% of the vote, winning a single seat.
Growing opposition to UNIP's monopoly on power, due in part to economic problems and corruption, led to the formation of the MMD in July 1990, led by [[Frederick Chiluba]], the head of the country's trade unions.<ref>Martin Lindhardt (2014) ''Pentecostalism in Africa: Presence and Impact of Pneumatic Christianity in Postcolonial Societies'', BRILL, pp302–303</ref> During that same year, pushed by internal and international pressure, Kaunda agreed to a referendum on the [[one-party state]], but in the face of continued opposition, dropped the referendum and signed a [[constitutional amendment]] making Zambia a multi-party state.


Multi-party [[Zambian general election, 1991|general elections]] were held on 31 October 1991; Chiluba was elected president with 76% of the vote to Kaunda's 24%, whilst the MMD won 125 of the 150 elected seats in the [[National Assembly (Zambia)|National Assembly]]. However, by the end of Chiluba's first five-year term as president, the MMD's commitment to political reform had faded in the face of re-election demands and several prominent members left to establish other parties.
Sata was again the party's presidential candidate for the [[Zambian general election, 2006|2006 general elections]], this time finishing second to the Mwanawasa with 29% of the vote. With its National Assembly vote share increasing to 23% , the party won 43 seats, becoming the largest opposition party. Following Mwanawasa's death, a [[Zambian presidential election, 2008|presidential by-election]] was held in 2008. Sata finished second to MMD candidate [[Rupiah Banda]] with 38% of the vote to Banda's 40%.


Relying on the MMD's overwhelming majority in parliament, President Chiluba in May 1996 pushed through constitutional amendments that eliminated former President Kaunda and other prominent opposition leaders from the [[Zambian general election, 1996|1996 general elections]]. As a result, UNIP boycotted the elections, allowing Chiluba to be easily re-elected with 73% of the vote, whilst the MMD won 131 of the 150 seats in the National Assembly. Afterward, however, several opposition parties and [[non-governmental organisation]]s declared the elections neither free nor fair.
The [[Zambian general election, 2011|2011 general elections]] saw a reversal of the 2008 result, with Sata beating Banda by a margin of 42% to 35%. The PF also became the largest party in the National Assembly, winning 60 of the 150 seats. However, Sata died in office in October 2014. Vice-President [[Guy Scott]] took over as interim president until a [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|by-election]] was held in January 2015. [[Edgar Lungu]] was selected as the party's candidate, and won the election with 48% of the vote.
 
Early in 2001, supporters of President Chiluba mounted a campaign to amend the constitution to enable Chiluba to seek a third term of office; the campaign led to further breakaways from the MMD, including the [[Forum for Democracy and Development]] and the [[Heritage Party (Zambia)|Heritage Party]]. Eventually civil society, opposition parties, and other MMD members exerted sufficient pressure on Chiluba to force him to back away from any attempt at a third term.
 
[[Levy Mwanawasa]] was selected as the MMD presidential candidate for the [[Zambian general election, 2001|2001 elections]], winning with just 28% of the vote. Although the MMD remained the largest party in the National Assembly, it lost its majority after being reduced to 69 seats. Three parties submitted petitions to the High Court, challenging the election results. The petition remained under consideration by the courts in February 2003 when it was ruled that while there had been irregularities these had not been large enough to affect the outcome; thus the result was upheld. Opposition parties won a majority of parliamentary seats in the December, 2001 election, but subsequent by-elections and liberal use of government patronage to secure the support of opposition MPs gave the ruling MMD a slim majority in Parliament.
 
Mwanawasa was re-elected in the [[Zambian general election, 2006|2006 general elections]] with 43% of the vote, with the MMD winning 72 seats in the National Assembly.
 
Following the sudden death of Mwanawasa in August 2008, a [[Zambian presidential election, 2008|presidential by-election]] was held. [[Rupiah Banda]] was chosen as the MMD candidate, and was elected with 40% of the national vote, narrowly defeating [[Michael Sata]] of the [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] (PF) by a margin of around 2%.
 
===Opposition===
However, the [[Zambian general election, 2011|2011 general elections]] saw Sata defeat Banda by a margin of 42%–35%, whilst the MMD won only 55 seats in the National Assembly to the PF's 60. The following year [[Nevers Mumba]] was elected as MMD president, defeating rival Felix Mutati and several other candidates.
 
In the [[Zambian presidential election, 2015|2015 presidential by-election]] several MMD members supported [[United Party for National Development]] candidate [[Hakainde Hichilema]] or the PF's [[Edgar Lungu]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/01/25/the-ruling-party-candidate-wins-in-zambia-for-now/ The ruling party candidate wins in Zambia… for now.] The Washington Post, 25 January 2015</ref> Although Mumba opted to run, he received just 0.9% of the vote.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.mmdzambia.org/ Official website]
*[http://www.pf.org.zm/ Official website]


{{Zambian political parties}}
{{Zambian political parties}}


[[Category:Political parties in Zambia]]
[[Category:Political parties in Zambia]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1990]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2001]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Zambia]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Zambia]]
[[Category:Consultative member parties of the Socialist International]]

Latest revision as of 14:04, 11 November 2016

Patriotic Front
LeaderEdgar Lungu (Party President)
Founded2001 (2001)
HeadquartersFarmer House, Cairo Road, Lusaka
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Political positionRight-wing
International affiliationSocialist International (consultative)
ColoursBlue and white
National Assembly
60 / 158
Pan African Parliament
2 / 5
Website
www.pf.org.zm

The Patriotic Front (PF) is the ruling political party in Zambia. The party was formed by Michael Sata as a breakaway party of the MMD in 2001 after the then-president Frederick Chiluba nominated Levy Mwanawasa as the MMD's presidential candidate for 2001 elections. After several years as an opposition party the PF gained power in the 2011 general elections. The party is a consultative member of Socialist International, having been admitted in February 2013.[1]

Formation

The Patriotic Front was formed as a political party in 2001. In 2000, after Chiluba lost a bid to change the constitution to allow him to stand for third term, Michael Sata thought he would be endorsed as the MMD presidential candidate. The answer was given in 2001 when Chiluba noted that none of those (including Sata) who were in his government at the time were capable of winning the elections. At a secret ballot, Chiluba personally nominated Mwanawasa and voted for him to be the presidential candidate.[2] Angered by this turn of events, Sata quit the MMD and founded the PF.[3] At the same time, notable figures like Christon Tembo, Godfrey Miyanda and Edith Nawakwi formed the Forum for Democracy and Development Party (FDD). Sata became leader of the PF and was its presidential candidate for the 2001 general elections; he received 3.4% of the vote, finishing seventh out of the eleven candidates. In the National Assembly elections the party received 2.8% of the vote, winning a single seat.

Sata was again the party's presidential candidate for the 2006 general elections, this time finishing second to the Mwanawasa with 29% of the vote. With its National Assembly vote share increasing to 23% , the party won 43 seats, becoming the largest opposition party. Following Mwanawasa's death, a presidential by-election was held in 2008. Sata finished second to MMD candidate Rupiah Banda with 38% of the vote to Banda's 40%.

The 2011 general elections saw a reversal of the 2008 result, with Sata beating Banda by a margin of 42% to 35%. The PF also became the largest party in the National Assembly, winning 60 of the 150 seats. However, Sata died in office in October 2014. Vice-President Guy Scott took over as interim president until a by-election was held in January 2015. Edgar Lungu was selected as the party's candidate, and won the election with 48% of the vote.

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Decisions of the Council Socialist International
  2. ↑ Presidential term limits in Africa by Daniel Vencovsky AfricaFiles
  3. ↑ Who will be Zambia’s next president? SARDC, September 2008

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.chalochatu.org/index.php?title=Patriotic_Front_(PF)&oldid=10971"