Multi-Party Democracy in Zambia

Frederick Chiluba, the President of Zambia from 1991-2001, espoused the benefits of multi-party democracy. As the leader of a prominent trade union, ZCTU, Chiluba advocated for an end to President Kenneth Kaunda's one-party state.

In writing about Zambia's quest for multi-party democracy, Chiluba associated the newly-formed Third Republic, of which Chiluba oversaw, to the First Republic, which denotes the era directly following independence until 1972. He sees many similarities between the Second Republic, the period from 1972-1991 when Zambia had a one-party government, and the colonial period. This is in a bid to legitimize his rule, by tying it back to the perceived glory days of the nation, following the abolition of colonial rule. At the same time, by drawing the link between the colonial period and Kaunda's autocratic rule, Chiluba is de-legitimizing Kaunda and his party, UNIP. By glorifying the memory of the First Republic, Chiluba is also artfully acknowledging the importance of Kaunda, who was President at that time as well, while simultaneously denouncing his lingering hold onto power.

To Chiluba, multi-party democracy is the most important entity that a country can possess, although he mentions that the concept tends to have different forms in different cultural contexts. Chiluba believes that multi-party democracy enables the best out of government because it holds office holders accountable for their actions to the people of their constituency. However, Chiluba's actions show that the blanket concept of multi-party democracy is not enough to thwart corruption.

Chiluba went to trial for embezzling millions of dollars. He also attempted to run for a third term as president despite the fact that it was the movement he led which instituted a constitutionally-decreed two-term limit. It is quite possible that his narrow view of multi-party democracy actually aided these actions. He could have seen himself only accountable to the people of Zambia and not to the constitution or even to his basic sense of morality. Chiluba shows that multi-party democracy might very well produce an effective system of government, but it certainly does not ensure one by itself. (International Affairs Edition)