Zambia looks as though it has lost excitement against multiparty politics in the 25 years ago since it staged the greatest election contest in history. The excitement which was embraced by thousands of young, old people and foreign political pundits for “The 4 feet vs. 6 feet David-Goliath” has fallen apart. Cadres armed with sticks and stones now fill the streets where Chiluba and Kaunda traded political and policy knockout punches for the epic election.
But Copperbelt, the capital region and birthplace of multiparty politics in Africa, even though is now laden with economic poverty, remains proud of having staged one of the most important Africa’s changing election contest of the 20th century on October 31, 1991.
Then the world was scared that Chiluba, aged 48 and fighting his way back from trade union to the political top after his ban for refusing to bow to Kaunda’s demagoguery, would suffer a humiliating beating by the fearsomely powerful Kenneth Kaunda, the only leader Zambia had known in 27 years of independence.
Chiluba soaked up the pressure during the campaign, fighting back his opponent all the time with free market economic policies and freedom of speech in the name of multiparty politics, and knocked Kaunda (Goliath) out in the tenth month with a lightning political knock out. “The battle is won. Victory goes to the people. There is no victor, no vanquished. There is one nation. We are going to move on.” President Chiluba proclaimed. Considering that Chiluba was imprisoned in 1981 on charges of treason, Chiluba became a legend, a proverbial David, folklore maikalange, an unsung contemporary father of multiparty politics in Africa, still without a pantheon on the continent of African, and under-appreciated in his own nation-Zambia.
Since then, dozens of politicians men and women have tried at the shot to be leader of Zambia. Some have succeeded and others have failed. Majority have become nomads wandering from one political party to another, singing slogans from the same opposition hymn books they once rejected, often appearing delusional without knowledge of why they are still in politics.
Chiluba won the election fight and also the hearts of the stakeholders of multiparty democracy, which is now known as the free global world. “Chiluba was one of us. We considered him a citizen of the world who was living in Zambia. Kaunda had grown arrogant and lost touch with reality. He did not like to listen to anyone’s advice and that was a factor in his defeat,” added retired European expatriate miner now living in UK.
Freedom fighters, now old and tired of politics, view Kaunda — who had already aggravated the Zambians by banning political parties in 1972 which evoked memories of the brutal rule of the former colonial masters Britain.
Kaunda was too moody, even if he was African like us. He liked people he could control and intimidate and was really interested in power and control than effecting meaningful change. Chiluba completely won the occasion. Even his pre-heavy weight knockout punch deriding Kaunda, “The greatest lesson we can learn from the past…is that freedom is at the core of every successful nation in the world,” has gone down in political folklore. Kaunda was totally out of touch with reality, Chiluba a non-politician on the Copperbelt became a symbol of the fight against oppression in Zambia, felt entirely at home and abroad.
The politics we know now is not what Chiluba envisioned. That is not what politics should be, there has to be the spectacle. Chiluba was a stylist and a technician. While the Zambians were going to the polls, all major TV networks were packed in the streets of Zambia for the outcome of the elections.
In a reversal of roles, the outspoken Chiluba won “The 4 feet Vs 6 feet David-Goliath” 25 years ago but has gone to rest in eternal peace, while brooding politician Kaunda has turned into a silent icon. Death ended the visionary that was Chiluba’s trademark. The man who once said “privatization is a bitter pill but it the pill that will cure” now rests at Embassy Park Cemetery.
Chiluba’s privatization bill has been indeed bitter and controversial. While the jury on the Chiluba’s privatization of the mines is still debated (even though I believe that mines were killed by UNIP’s misuse of mines revenue), the one thing we all can agree on is that the privatization pill has injected foreign capital (investors) in Zambia. Chiluba enlisted the help of men and women of goodwill from all corners of the earth to help develop Zambia. All the private universities festooned in Zambia, hospitals, buses and mobile phones companies, shopping malls, massive imported new and old cars, building of own Nigerian houses, are as a result of Chiluba’s bitter privatization pill. In essence privatization is about private citizens, local and foreigners, taking the initiative to develop their own lives instead of waiting for the government to do it for them.
Death is public enemy number one. If Chiluba had done all he had wished to accomplish, ZESCO would have been injected with the privatization pill and put to rest, like UBZ and ZTCC. With the death of ZESCO, Zambia’s energy crisis (load shedding) would have been resurrected by foreign investors specialized in energy services. Why is that we have competition in the telecommunication industry but we don’t have competition in energy industry? In my view, ZESCO is the last standing dinosaur needing to drink Chiluba’s privatization pill.
Chiluba turned Zambia into a global symbol of greatness beyond politics, his fight for workers rights and social justice creating a legacy that saw him empower Zambians with freedom of speech — should be emulated in raising today’s political discourse to the level of substance and policy debates.
I say Chiluba was the greatest man because there has never been a man so short and so good at what he did, gave birth to a free market economy Zambians are proudly enjoying. I say politics was too small for Chiluba. He changed the very world of multiparty politics. No other politician I know commanded the vision and intellect to stimulate policy debates like Chiluba. I don’t know when Zambia will ever again see a substantive and policy ridden election contest like Chiluba vs. Kaunda. That’s why for me despite all the human imperfections we all possess; Chiluba vs. Kaunda will go down in Zambia’s political history as the greatest election contest ever!
By Nsambila Mbolela
Mr. Nsambila Mbolela, is a native of Mufulira-Copper-Belt, currently based in the USA, a founding member of Zambia Institute of Transparency and Accountability (ZITA). ZITA is a Zambian Think Tank non-profit organization based in Canada-Zambia, whose mission is to promote public debate and awareness on issues of good governance, democracy and free and fair market economy in Zambia and Africa as whole. The author is a regular political and economic contributor to this organization.
People fail to recommend Kaunda, for allowing and consenting to the democracy.
He could easily have refused to accomodate the Multi Party elections.
I realise there was pressure for him to consent to that, but that was an option he could have taken
Respect, first to Kaunda.
Anything, else is secondary.
Thanks
BB2014
Mushota is right! KK is ethically above all his predecessors …
This article is very fair, in my opinion.
I do not agree with the views expressed above.It is Kaunda who took away the right to form or participate in a political party of one s choice by introducing a one party state.Why praise him for reversing his dictatorial regime?Kaunda s decision is the reason we have lagged behind in the development of multipartism.
I miss Chiluba. We were so free.
This time around i agree with Mushota…very much right….. Honour and respect is certainly due to Kenneth Kaunda the founding father of our great nation and indeed humbly made a choice to give way to democracy for the love of our dear nation. As for Chiluba and his corrupt and plundearous ministers ….please let me not even go there !!
Long Live KK !
This is a SMOKE SCREEN TO DISTRACT US FROM THE IMPENDING BIGGEST EVER CONTEST, between one a THEIVING FAILED CHAKOLWA LAWYER & a Sober successful business man!!
The CONTRAST can’t be more stark than this!! SOBER MINDED ZAMBIANS WANT TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY FORWARD, but with this chakolwa, WE ARE FOREVER BEEN MAKING RETROGRESSIVE MOVES!! The rest of the world is moving forward, whilst we are moving towards the dark ages, sorry about the pun, what with all the power outages!!
Vote wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote ZAMBIA FORWARD!! Vote UPND!! Abantu Baya!!
//chagwamustfall!! PamaFi pumbafu kuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
“Chiluba the Greatest Man??????????????????????????????????????????///
I Really had to gulp on my whiskey, reading that statement, ALMOST CHOKED!! I know alot of hash does go around, the green party want to export more of Cannabis – fair enough, BUT HONESTLY, LETS TRY TO SMOKE IT RESPONSIBLY!!
One would have thought it was Zedians who FOUGHT & VOTED FOR A FREE MARKET ECONOMY, Chiluba’s presidency, became one of a ” FREE MARKET SPACE” for himself, rather than for us all!! Lets NOT TRY TO RE-WRITE HISTORY!!
Vote Wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE UPND!! Abantu baya!!
//pamaFi Kuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
You forgot to mention that your father of democracy was also fighting a third term and that he too became big headed like Kaunda. He stole a lot of money which he used to buy shoes and suits from Italy.
At the end it is the great KK who won. Chiluba recalled. 10yrs court battle spoilt his presidency. Ended up tagged a THIEF .. His wife here is pumping 8m in a business friend to help him pay taxes. Where did Regina got all that monies????
Chiluba was a good leader in some areas, he is only made to look good because of the poorer leadership to compare him to in the current context.
This article almost paints Chiluba as some sort of savior when his legacy has been nothing more than plunder and corruption. It is a shame, because what is being said here is how things should be today. Kaunda, despite his loss of touch with the people, led a peaceful campaign. There were no shortcuts or blurred lines and misuse of police under Kaunda. MMD were able to conduct rallies or have televised adverts without any issues, and no political violence. When the tables were turned, Kaunda was imprisoned, he was written out of contention by the ruling government, and even 2 UNZA students were shot and killed under Chiluba when they were protesting.
You might not want to go down the route of Chiluba’s oppression vs Kaunda’s oppression. I think the author is well aware of Chiluba’s negatives, but is trying to remind us of where we would be without the Chiluba era… and probably more importantly, the quality of of discourse during the electoral period of the 1991.
In comparison to that time, we have degenerated to a perfectly pure form of mediocrity since then.
It’s sad that tabloids deliberately focus on depicting Chiluba in a negative light. A complete generation of young Zambias has reached adulthood without knowing who truly Frederick Chiluba was. Nsambila’s piece has set the scene to showcase the many things FTJ brought in to our benefit. I hope many more educated articles on this former president will be written to afford a chance to the new generation see Chiluba’s wonderful work. Beautifully articulated article.
Kaunda rule was dictatorial, he killed too many people who opposed him. He worked with yes bwana people. He actually destroyed this Country, the Colonialists left this Country at a very good footing. He brought in Socialism which has failed lamentably, handouts just to please people at expense of economy.
Those tunnels from State House at such great cost, he could have constructed under ground train transport but was too selfish just thinking about his safety coz of the wrongs/killings/dictatorship he was doing
The writer is distorting facts, multy party politics. We’re going to come whether chiluba or Kaunda liked it or not. Free market economy was already on track under kaunda.the mistakes of chilula was the dis organised way of privatation. Basically they were plundering govnt resources.. they had no economical plans they gverned by the day. Chiluba was worse than Kaunda on governance. He had blood on his hands
The negative image of Chiluba has been perpetuated and spearheaded by Membe’s obsession against Chiluba. Anyway he made very good business at the time coz he was able to drive the masses into a direction for his own economic gain. But its good now that a lot of Zambians are able to see through Membe and can’t be deceived anymore.
That’s why Under Five will be in shock yet again if he thinks Membe can help him win the 8/11 election
What an article! brilliant and devoid of malice. A prophet is never appreciated in his own land.
All the good things Chiluba did have been deleted by the vengeful POST NEWS PAPER because of personal differences . Anyway GOD ALMIGHTY IS ALIVE
Kaunda has more blood on his hands than any other leader in this Country and that’s a fact. And he destroyed the Country’s economy. By Chiluba’s time there was nothing to wright home about, all the parastator Companies had failed and were just shells. He was printing money and pumping into these Companies which had become bottomless pits. These Companies were mismanaged because he appointed people on patronage to manage them and also Unip was always getting money from these Parastators
Kaunda was the one who was printing more money and putting it into the failed Companies.
Kaunda destroyed this Country’s economy
KK had no choice but to toy the majority line. The mood at the time was such that any delay or obfuscation of the process to return to democracy was going to torch a rebellion. We were fed up with him and his vigilante party and he knew it.
Nicely written article. We as a nation have forgortten the value of a brand of politics that predorminantly focus on issues & not personalities. I hope this well written paper will remind people ofhow Chiluba`s victory gave birth to the nation that we are enjoying today.
I hope after 11th Aug. 2016 Chiluba’s place in history shall be recognised. He was human with a number of shortcomings just like human beings but he did some good deeds as well. A person cannot be 100% whether as a President or chi bombe bombe. Have a blessed weekend bloggers!
SINKAMBA WISDOM – I MY SELF IAM OLD THAN ZAMBIA. Chiluba did a lot to change the face of Zambia. KK VVigilantes were ruthless, just like ECL pf cadres are doing harm to the Zambian people. Without privatization process that Chiluba introduced and implemented with the hard working Finance Minister Ronald Penza, their fruits are being seen to day. Of course Chiluba might have made a few mistakes here and there. But we can rate him above 80 %
Tell us the other side of free market economy (how private millers are troubling Zambians) and privatisation. Why is the Govt going back to running of milling plants. Fimbi tuletesha
As far as I am concerned, switching from KK to FTJ was the biggest mistake that Zambians ever made.
SAD STORY AND MEMORIES , I DISLIKE PIPO WHO DO NOT APPRECIATE SUPER KEN BUT WOULD LIKE 2 WORSHIP ????? I WAS OLD ENOUGH 2 COMPARE THE ????? I WAS BORN IN 1964 FULL STOP
the article is fair… a victim of his own success, chiluba was and still is in the minds of many!!! before you demonise the man think; now you have an opinion, thanks to chiluba! mhsrip
@Mushota this is one of the rare occassions I agree with you 100 percent!!!
Kaunda is the founding father of Zambia and an African Statesman respected all over the world!
Chiluba on the other hand a womanizer, thief, bitter bus conductor that is the cause of many a death from depression of. workers from ZCCM, UBZ, Zambian Airways and other parastatals that couldve been salvaged rather than liquidated!
Chiluba was the worst thing to ever happen to Zambia! In the words of Captn Solo “that Congolese Chiluba” messed up the economy!Chiluba was a cretin of epic proportions directly responsible for the deaths of Paul Tembo, Penza, Wezi Kaunda and many others! You must be mad to think Chiluba was a good leader!
Chiluba had a great opportunity to move Zambia forward but basically messed up due to greed and lack of intergrity. He failed to maximise his moment in history. He however did his part.The problem with KK is just that he stayed too long . The way he handed over power stands out for me.
The fact of the matter is KK failed lamentably in every aspect such that he ruled by terror. His thugs the ‘BY Air’ became more powerful than the police and terrorised innocent people. The ‘Shushushus’ (Inteligence ) were also numerous. they were everywhere targeting or picking innocent people to the Red Brick Building to torture them. People simply lived in fear.
The economy deteriorated to nothing.. shortages of essential commodities, shelves of shops were empty, it was an economic breakdown which has taken long to be mended
I salute HE President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for not dissolving his cabinet until after elections on 11/08/16.This is good tact though it is unconstitutional as some quarters are alleging. One good reason for this that the political mercenaries who wanted to jump off the boat and join UPND have been caged or rather cut to size. And those that want to jump out of the boat will do so at their own risk. Now we will know who is who. VIVA CHAGWA LUNGU.
KK could’t even have a Housing Policy whereby the few Council Houses became ‘diamond’ very expensive to finde and rent and some people took advantage of poor people.
KK messed up our Country infact he is the one who allowed the growth of shanties. He had no plan
KK stayed too long in the office, and should have left to allow another leader to lead the economic fight. Chiluba probably had the right intentions and knew the destination but like the meaning of his name, he got lost and unfortunately took the country along as well.
Between the two, kudos to KK
At least Chiluba revived the economy and even started building some houses, during KK’s time people had no homes, there were just a few house where as the population was growing
During KK’s time even the transport system had broken down, it was just a mess with KK
This story is a distortion of history. Birth place of MMD & multipartyism is Lusaka. The 1990 food riots & the Luchembe coup led to Pope Square & Garden House meetings (all in Lsk).
FTJ was invited to join in long after people like Akashambatwa, Chitala, John Kalenga, Joshua Lumina, Sikota & his wife Nakatindi had raised the flag to KK.
This is an important part of our history that require soberness when discussing, especially if you call yourself think tank.
Chiluba saved Zambia, it will take a while to appreciate him.sometimes as leader you have to make hard decision, which might cause other to die from depression, but in the long run save the country. Thatcher ,by the time she was leaving office, people were throwing oranges at her. But UK has stable economy than Greece because of the hard decisions made my Thatcher. If u a liked by every one then you are bad leader/manager
Chiluba is Zambia’s worst president.
This time it will be a walk over. ECL (70%), HH (25%)
This time it will be a white wash ( HH70%) , (ECL (25%)
Copper – Belt? Where is that province?
Comment: Am sure the author wasnt born during FTJ time. He shud hv askd before writting ths useless ad baseles article.
Issues must be viewed in their proper context. One man once said that Chiluba introduced Cell phones which Kaunda failed to do! Multi-party Democracy was due, even without Chiluba. It is not in doubt that he played a major part in introducing it to Africa, but he made a bad job of it, hence the confusion now pertaining.
President chiluba also empowered Zambians by selling them houses
@ Itizi turu. You are 100% correct. I fail to understand why Zambia has so many intellectuals with potential to provide true facts to the nation regarding the emergence of multi party system in Zambia. Propaganda and lies is what people want to embrace. It all started from Munali Secondary school when the grade 12s and 11 refused to pay contribution for the erection of the wall fence. They took to the street demanding the removal of the principal and while we thought it was an internal issue the fire spread to UNZA and all hell broke to Kabulonga and town centers sellers picked it up stoning cars and breaking shops. It was a show for Lusaka province. Then the Mwamba Luchembe saga came in. The situation became tense and the demand for change of government set in, with the likes of…