Resistance to colonial rule in Zambia and achieving independence

Join in as we explore Zambia’s Resistance to colonial rule and how she finally achieved her hard earned and well deserved independence.

Background to Zambia’s Resistance to colonial rule

• African grew very angry about the unfairness of the colonial rule, and began to resist British rule.
• In 1912, the mwenzo welfare society was formed by Donald Siwale to provide assistance to Africans.
• Later more welfare societies would be formed to support Africans’ Resistance to colonial rule.
• The area that is now copperbelt province has many mines which the British controlled during colonial times.
• The African labourers at the mines were subject to terrible living conditions, and were not allowed to live with their families.
• This led to anger and unhappiness and the beginning of resistance to colonial rule.
• The first miners’ strike took place at Nkana, loan antelope and Mfurira mines in 1935.
• The strike was stopped and numbers of miners were arrested.
• This led to miners being given permission to live with their families in Mine Township.

The Federation Of Welfare Societies and the ANC

• In 1964, a group of Africans formed the federation of welfare societies, led by Daudi yamba.
• This federation brought together the welfare societies from mwenzo, Livingstone, Ndola, Choma, Mbala and Chipata.
• It was more organized resistance.
• The federation of welfare societies, the African mine workers ‘union and the African representative council and the came together and launched the first political party, the northern Rhodesia national congress in 1948.
• The first President was Godwin Mbikusita. He was succeeded by Harry Mwanga Nkumbula when the party changed to Africa National Congress in 1949.

The Federation Of Rhodesia And Nyasaland

• The northern Rhodesia gained hope from development in other countries.
• They celebrated the coming to power of Chairman Mao in china, the topping of the king Farouk in Egypt and the independence that was granted to some African countries.
• In response, the colonialist created the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasa land in 1953.
• The federation was made up of: Northern Rhodesia(Today Zambia),Southern Rhodesia(Today Zimbabwe) and Nyasa Land(Today Malawi)

Formation and banning of the ZANC and other parties

Shop boycotts.

In reaction to the condition of colonial rule, the (ANC) organized boycotts of European shops which served African through hatches.
The boycotts discouraged people from using these shops

Younger leaders

•At the Africa national congress elections in 1958, younger leaders were elected to the executive committee.
•However, many young members of the ANC thought the president was working too closely with colonial leaders. As a result, the Zambian African national congress (ZANC) was formed in 1958.
•The ZANC’s executive committee included Kenneth Kaunda as the president, Simon mwansa kapwepwe as the treasurer and munakayumba sipalo as the secretary general.

Banning of the ZANC

•However, in late 1958, the ZANC was banned. This meant that it was illegal to belong to the party.
•Most of its leaders were arrested and accused of preparing to cause disturbance during the elections that year.

Other forms of political parties

The banning of the ZANC led to formation of number of new parties, including the
African freedom movement (ANFM), united national freedom party (UNFP) and the Africa national independence (ANIP)

UNIP

•The UNFP and ANIP merged in 1959 to form one party, the national freedom party (UNIP).
•Mainza Chona stood as the president for Kenneth Kaunda who was still in prison. In 1960, Kenneth Kaunda was released from prison and became the president of UNIP; Simon kapwepwe became the vice president.

Other forms of Resistance to colonial rule in Zambia

Civil disobedience

• In 1961, resistance to colonial rule reached its peak. It burst into campaign of civil disobedience called chachacha in the northern, Luapula and Copperbelt province.
• Roads were blocked, bridges were destroyed and government buildings and property burnt.

Co-operation with other African countries

• At the same time, the oppressed people in different parts of Africa began to work together.
• Politically aware African students living in England, including Kwame Nkhuruma (from Ghana), Jomo Kenyatta (from Kenya) and Hastings Kamuzu Banda (from Malawi), formed an organization called African committee.
• The committee aimed to support the cause of oppressed Africans.
• They distributed liberation messages through literature to their neighbors back in Africa.
• By 1962, the colonial government gave into the demands of the Africans. Elections were held that year which African could vote.
• There was no outright winner, so the UNIP and ANC agreed to work together and formed a coalition government.
• Nyasaland (Malawi) left the federation and became independent the same year.
• The federation was finally disbanded or broken down in 1963.
• In the following year, new elections were held in northern Rhodesia.
• The UNIP emerged victorious and formed the new government after wining 55 out of 65 parliament seats.

The Zambia becomes independence

• On 24th October 1964, northern Rhodesia gained independence from Britain, and became the republic of Zambia with Kenneth David Kaunda as the prime minister.
• The name Zambia came from the county’s biggest river, the Zambezi.
• The Zambezi was known as “Yambezi” (meaning the source of everything) among the Lunda people who inhabit the Kalene hills, where the river has its source.