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Zambia |
ELECTIONS
The
year 2001 will mark yet another watershed in the history of Zambia
as Zambians will go to the polls to vote for their third president
While the major opposition parties have already chosen their presidential candidates, the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has not yet told the nation who its candidate will be.
President Frederick Chiluba, who is also MMD‘s president, has categorically stated that he will appoint his successor as party president. So far he has refused to reveal the name of his successor, contending that the issue will be fully dealt with at the MMD‘s national convention, which those «in the know» expect to take place before the end of the year or early next year.
Chiluba, however, has kept the dates of the convention a closely guarded secret. He has also banned all presidential hopefuls within his party from campaigning before the convention, arguing that campaigning would make those leaders involved forget to carry out their ministerial duties. In any case, there is no need for any of the presidential hopefuls to start campaigning before the party convention, as within MMD ranks, the party faithful are not allowed to stand for the presidency of the republic without first being elected party-president. The ban on campaigning will only be lifted at the convention.
The ban, coupled with the convention-date secret, plus the issue of his successor have only fuelled speculation that Chiluba intends to run for a third term of office. This would be against both the party constitution and Zambia’s constitution which bar him from going for a third term of office.
Chiluba, however, insists that he will not run for a third term of office, and that next year he will retire from active politics when his mandate is over. He says he intends to concentrate on his Frederick J.T. Chiluba Institute for Democratic and Industrial Relations Studies. The Institute’s construction has already started in Lusaka and is scheduled to be opened in June 2001.
Of the over thirty opposition parties, only a handful have sufficient members worth talking about and suitable presidential candidates capable of making a meaningful entry into the presidential race. People such as Anderson Mazoka of the United Party for National Development (UPND); Dean Mung’omba of the Zambia Alliance for Progress (ZAP); Francis Nkhoma of the United National Independence Party (UNIP); Dr Nevers Mumba of the National Citizens Coalition; and Benjamin Mwila, former Treasurer of the MMD and Environment Minister in the Chiluba government.
Benjamin Mwila: He was recently expelled from the MMD for declaring his intention to stand for the presidency. Most political analysts don’t think Mwila, who has since formed his own party, can achieve much outside the MMD. It is argued that the fact there were no nationwide demonstrations or protests by MMD members when Mwila was expelled along with six Members of Parliament who support his cause, is a clear indication that he has no real following in the ruling party. Mwila had predicted a major split in the MMD if he was expelled. The split, however, has not taken place. Yet Mwila insists: «I will take at least 40% of the MMD MPs and cabinet ministers. They have strongly expressed their desire to join me.»
Nevers Mumba: Another presidential hopeful is the NCC‘s president, Dr Nevers Mumba. Only a few years back, when the tele-evangelist was at his peak, he was asked by Frank Mutubila during one of Mutubila’s «Frank Talk» television shows, if he would stand for the presidency of Zambia. His answer, which the whole nation heard, was that he was content with being a pastor, as saving souls was the highest calling in life. Becoming president would be «a demotion». When Mumba formed a political party and went ahead to declare his interest in the presidency, most Zambians found it difficult to understand. Even more so his spiritual followers. As a spiritual leader, Dr Mumba made his mark on the country and commanded respect. As a political leader, however, he has failed to command the kind of following and respect he enjoyed in the spiritual realm as Zambia’s first televangelist.
Francis Nkhoma: UNIP‘s Francis Nkhoma has his own load of problems. He is new at UNIP‘s helm, having been voted into office at the party’s fourth extraordinary congress in May this year, to take over from former Zambian president Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who finally retired from active politics. However, Nkhoma’s party is divided over his leadership, with some members pushing for his resignation or impeachment. Some sections of the Media have branded him «a shameless opportunist», especially because in 1991 he ditched UNIP for the MMD, the new political force, and later rejoined UNIP. He is accused by some members of his party of being an MMD stooge and sympathiser.
Tilyenji Kaunda: It could be that Nkhoma might be forced out of the top position to give way to Tilyenji Kaunda, the former president’s son, who scooped the position of party Secretary-General at the May congress. Tilyenji himself has expressed interest in standing as President of the Republic and has a large following, especially among those who support his father. Going by the reverence with which UNIP cadres look to the former President and his family, Nkhoma might find himself in the political wilderness with Tilyenji as UNIP‘s presidential candidate. The 63-year-old Nkhoma, however, does not seem willing to step aside for the 46-year-old Tilyenji, whose appearance on the political scene is seen as an attempt to perpetuate the Kaunda dynasty. «In a highly democratised country like Zambia,» Nkhoma argues, «people must come and go. Even bigger politicians Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy and Kwame Nkrumah were later replaced by equally capable leaders. This is my turn and I won’t abdicate the throne which has been entrusted to me by those who wanted change after more than four decades of changelessness.»
Dean Mung’omba: He has also repeatedly been branded an opportunist by his detractors and the Media. Like Mwila he was once a staunch supporter of the MMD and its policies when he was a minister. He was then fired from his post and expelled from the party. He formed the Zambia Democratic Congress (ZADECO), also known as the (ZDC) and contested the 1996 presidential elections on behalf of ZADECO. He suffered a humiliating defeat by President Chiluba. He was later arrested and incarcerated after being implicated in the abortive 1997 military coup. Upon release from prison, Mung’omba continued with his political career, but merged his party with several other «small» parties to form the Zambia Alliance for Progress (ZAP). He was recently voted party president and intends to contest the 2001 presidential elections. However, the failure by his party to win any parliamentary election since inception, is considered a reflection of the degree of his expected performance during the presidential race.
Anderson Mazoka: An analysis of trends in the opposition camp indicate that UPND‘s Anderson Mazoka could prove difficult for the MMD candidate, whoever that may be. In fact the race for the presidency is likely to mostly evolve around Mazoka and the MMD candidate. This view seems justified considering the astounding successes his party has scored in parliamentary by-elections since its inception less than a year ago. Mazoka has employed what some sections of the press have come to refer to as «guerilla campaign tactics» — he rarely talks to the Press and hardly ever plays to the public eye; instead he usually goes «underground» to campaign in rural areas, only to surface after victory. Mazoka’s credentials are admirable. He was, before retiring to pursue politics, Chairman of the Anglo-American Corporation for east and central Africa. His campaign line is that Zambia now needs an economic manager for President; someone with the capacity to turn around the country’s economic fortunes.
The ability to transform the economy, however, is not the only key issue in the campaign for the presidency. The other is the crucial factor of the future President’s attitude to the Christian faith.
Ever since President Chiluba declared Zambia a Christian nation in December 1991, the Church has become an increasingly powerful influence. Most Zambians would therefore be interested to know the position of the future president on the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation and the role of the Church.
All the presidential candidates are aware of the church factor, and virtually all of them have, at least publicly, tried to portray themselves as good Christians who uphold the values of the Christian faith.
Mazoka has also striving to portray himself as a dedicated Seventh Day Adventist Christian and has refuted allegations that he is still a member of the Freemasons. He claims that he quit the Masons, which most Zambians view as a satanic institution. His arguments, however, do not appear to convince most doubters; but on the other hand the allegations do not seem to have reduced his popularity.
The big question is: Who will be Zambia’s next President? Mazoka or the man President Chiluba will appoint as his successor?
 | Cheela F.K. Chilala, Zambia, August 2000 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment |
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