• SOUTHERN Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe (left), Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo and Choma District Commissioner Bernadette Hamweemba (far right) join a traditional dance during commemoration of the Choma Declaration of 1973 in Choma recently. Picture by CHILA NAMAIKO
By CHILA NAMAIKO-
HAVE you taken time to think about the genesis of peace and unity Zambia is currently enjoying with over 70 different tribes spread across the country?
Despite such amass of tribes, Zambia, a landlocked country, remains a haven of peace in Southern Africa while some nations with lesser tribes are battling with political volatilities.
Beside the realisation of Zambia’s independence on October 24, 1964, championed by first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, many facets add colour to this peaceable ambience.
According to Dr Kaunda, shortly after independence, there was tension and fighting because Zambians belonged to varied political parties, a situation which made him comprehend the need to bring to a halt such violence and division.
On June 27, 1973, Dr Kaunda signed the Choma Declaration in which the agreement took place at Choma Secondary School between Dr Kaunda, leader of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and the late Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula of the African National Congress (ANC).
With signing of the agreement, there has been a historical anthill site in Shampande Township known as ‘Kaunda Square ‘which gave birth to a One-Party State after Mr Nkumbula accepted to merge with UNIP.
The one-party system through then, UNIP regime was an essential historical recollection in the political history of Zambia because it became a channel in the endorsement of peace and unity in the country.
During that period, Choma, now the provincial capital of Southern Province was the major political centre of the ANC which was led by the late Mr Nkumbula.
On that momentous day, Mr Nkumbula accepted the new political system of Dr Kaunda and by signing the Choma Declaration, it meant that the former ANC leader and his followers joined UNIP.
Had Dr Kaunda and Mr Nkumbula opted not to sign the Choma Declaration coupled with many tribes and political parties at that period, it stands to speculate as to what could have happened of Zambia today.
“We wanted to move away from this division and violence that arose amongst the people of Zambia’s political parties. We were one yet sometimes, because of belonging to different sides, we had been fighting among ourselves. Some were wounded from that fighting and violence,” Dr Kaunda said.
By the Choma Declaration he said that, it was not something that leaders of political parties in the UNIP Government and the opposition made for their own self-interest or benefit.
He explained that the development was actually welcomed and supported by people from various backgrounds and its immediate fruits included the stopping of political violence.
He said the Choma Declaration was among major foundations of peace and unity which has deeply contributed to Zambia’s prevailing peaceful atmosphere being enjoyed by people.
“It is here at Choma, in June 1973, that we agreed to work together, as brothers and sisters from various backgrounds, to build more harmony, unity, peace, development and stability. Because of the Choma Declaration, alot was over the years achieved,” he said.
Dr Kaunda, a signatory to the Choma Declaration, was speaking recently in a statement read for him by Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo at Choma Museum Exhibition Gallery during the 42nd anniversary of the Choma Declaration.
“We remembered that even just before Independence, following the 15-15-15 elections of 1962, we in UNIP discussed with ANC about coming together to form a coalition Government. The nationalist that he was, ‘Old Harry’ preferred to team up with us instead of the European controlled settler party,” he said.
Dr Kaunda and Mr Nkumbula’s agreement to the Choma Declaration has significantly contributed to the stability that many people in Africa and the world at large, say was found in Zambia.
It enabled UNIP Government and the opposition ANC to work together as one people instead of being parties with harsh conflicts since as one party participatory democracy state, was inclusive.
Through the Choma Declaration, it made it easier for greater contribution of Zambia’s stability because of unity, which was not easier for the external forces such as some neighbouring racist regimes during those days to destabilise Zambians.
Dr Kaunda, however, said although, they were some challenges that needed to have been dealt with, the one-party system enabled the participation of persons from various walks of life resulting into strong bonding amongst Zambians in addition to the philosophy of humanism which cemented the collaboration of people.
“The stability made it easier for us to support those neighbours fighting for Independence and liberation. Because of Zambia’s unity, the destination done by the racist regimes was hard but more limited than if we had not been very limited,” he said.
When article four of the Constitution was repealed to make Zambia a third Republic and go back to the multiparty system in December 1990, Zambians were still united and stable owing to the fruits of Choma Declaration.
For this reason, Dr Kaunda is urging political players to desist from politics of violence in recognition of the value played by the Choma Declaration in Zambia’s political history.
He said that politicians should unite and emulate the peace and unity which he and Mr Nkumbula with other freedoms fighters formed between UNIP and ANC in 1972 through the Choma Declaration aimed at fostering national unity as one people.
And speaking when she officiated at the anniversary of the Choma Declaration attended by scores of people, Professor Nkandu Luo said peace and unity were strong pillars for national development.
The minister urged politicians to refrain from violence and embrace ideologies of Dr Kaunda and Mr Nkumbula of agreeing to work together in making Zambia achieve more meaningful developments.
She cautioned youths against being used as tools of violence but support President Michael Sata’s developmental agenda in which the country was seeing massive developments.
One of the witnesses to the signing of Choma Declaration, Daniel Munkombwe, who is Provincial Minister, said it was difficult to develop a country without peace, unity and stability.
Mr Munkombwe, who is also Patriotic Front (PF) provincial chairperson appealed, to Zambians to remain peaceful and shun all forms of violence in view of tenets of the Choma Declaration and denounce politics of hatred and tribalism championed by some politicians.
Late former freedom fighter, Mainza Chona’s widow, Yolanta, praised President Sata‘s administration for continued efforts to develop Zambia through on-going massive developmental projects from where Dr Kaunda left.
Ms Chona said the Choma Declaration was an important heritage site which should remain a strong symbol of peace and unity Dr Kaunda and Mr Nkumbula worked to foster countrywide.
Chief Macha, who spoke on behalf of traditional leaders in the province, said that peace and unity were key ingredient drivers of nurturing peace which should start at household level.
This year’s anniversary of the Choma Declaration, which was attended by many chiefs and other people from all walks, was characterised by traditional dances such as the famous ‘Budima’ from the rural valley of Sinazongwe District.
So, the next time you pass through Choma, think about the Choma Declaration of 1973, one of the pillars of Zambia’s peace and unity coined in the structure by Dr Kaunda and Mr Nkumbula, but his productive and diligent works remains dynamic.
The question, however, which begs for an answer is, what can you do as an individual to ensure peace and unity continues to prevail in Zambia as was done by Dr Kaunda and Mr Nkumbula?
