Today in History

On this day, 26 years ago, Zambians voting in their first multi-party democratic elections in 18 years, unseated President Kenneth Kaunda,who had ruled for 27 since independence.

Election results monitored by a team of international observers, including US former President Jimmy Carter, indicated that, the Opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy, led by Fredrick Chiluba, also won a majority of parliamentary seats in the polls.

The movement, whose leader was once jailed by Kaunda, defeated Kaunda’s United National Independence Party which had ruled Zambia since 1964 and was also the only party since 1972 when Kaunda made Zambia a one party state.

Chiluba’s victory made Zambia the first English speaking country to reject dictatorial one-party rule as part of the democratic movement that had swept Sub-Saharan Africa since the fall of socialism in Eastern Europe began in 1989, while Kaunda became the most important African leader to be unseated by popular vote.

Prior to the elections Kaunda had pledged to abide by the electoral count as monitored by the international observers and promised to concede defeat .

Former US President Jimmy Carter who led a team of observers described the elections as free and fair, and a sharp setback for one-party countries and a big boost for democracy in Africa.

“What happens in Zambia will set an example for Africa,” said Carter.
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Sande sana VE for a valuable lesson in recent African history.

huyu mtu hakuwa na nyumba hapa Kenya? he used to be a permanent fixture here.

Today in history article kwa DN zilienda wapi? They were a good read na 30years ago kwa Sunday nation until walifika to a period where I also witnessed the occurrences

Approximately today in 2027…

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Ati Chiloba