TWICE during the past 32 years Zambia has been a beacon of hope in the continent. And twice the beacon has been extinguished through selfish power-grabbing.
A model democracy was promised when Kenneth Kaunda led Zambians to freedom from Britain in October 1964. On the world stage Kaunda became a moral and practical leader in fighting against South African apartheid. But cynically, at home, he kept himself in office for 27 years through political repression and the creation of a one-party state.
Only when he had reduced his country’s economy to disaster level did he allow democratic elections; and when he lost overwhelmingly, he acted wisely and responsibly at last and handed over power peacefully. So in November 1991, a new beacon of hope was lit with the coming to office of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), led by Frederick Chiluba.
The MMD victory was all the more noteworthy because consciousness of the need for democratic government was sweeping through Africa. There was every reason to believe that Zambia was the first swallow of a new spring. But there was barely time to enjoy the warmth of freedom regained before dismal clouds set in as Chiluba followed his predecessor in holding on to power, while displaying increasing cynicism in proclaiming his adherence to democracy.
The parliamentary and presidential elections held earlier this month confirmed the worst of fears: it began with the exclusion of chief opposition candidates – including, ironically, Kaunda – and there was ample evidence of abuse, from irregularities in the voters’ registers through intimidation of opposition supporters to the patent giving of bribes. In a final betrayal of democracy, Chiluba this week resorted to raiding and harassing domestic monitoring organisations which had questioned the government’s victory.
South Africa can now play a particular role. Not only does our country carry the freedom hopes for many but Chiluba has displayed respect for President Nelson Mandela’s moral stature. He came to visit the president, even if he did not follow the advice apparently given to him to postpone the elections.
That is a starting point: South Africa must use its influence constantly to tell Chiluba that the Kaunda years must not be repeated. And South Africa must join with other nations, in Africa and the world, to seek ways of putting pressure on Zambia to get it back on the road to true freedom.