THE GARDEN HOUSE MEETING-THE BIRTH OF A NEW ZAMBIA
From 1964 onwards Zambia was ruled by United Party for national Independence (UNIP), but by the end of the 1980s and with increased economic woes Zambians were tired and especially after sacrificing a lot in liberating southern Africa from colonial oppression, change was needed. People showed their dislike for the UNIP regime through different means including violent one like the 1986 food riots on the Copperbelts, similar riots in June 1990 and a near coup in the same month. After the near coup on June 30 1990 by a disgruntled soldier Mwamba Luchembe, Kaunda’s eyes were open to reality for change. There was need for a constructive development to prepare a pathway for this and two individuals pioneered this cause; Akashambakwa Mbikusita – Lewanika and his friend Derrick Chitala (now Mbita Chitala). They prepared anew roadmap which was to usher in a new Zambia from the old UNIP Kaunda way to a Zambia that would embrace freedom and an open market. That new Zambia which is still alive to today was born on 20 July 1990 at a meeting at Garden house hotel and that meeting was called Garden House Hotel meeting.
Garden House Hotel meeting was convened by Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika and Mbita Chitala. The gathering included various groups: academia, trade unions, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), student bodies, civil society and disgruntled former UNIP leaders. The movement’s first task was to fight for the re-introduction of multiparty politics after 18 years of UNIP’s one-party rule. Arthur Wina was chosen as the interim president for the new party to be born: MMD. He lost to trade unionist Fredrick Chiluba at the party’s convention. Chiluba went on to become Zambia’s second republican president.
The movement became a political party following the repeal in 1990 of Article 4 of the Republican Constitution to allow for the formation of parties other than UNIP. Growing opposition to UNIP’s monopoly on power, due in part to economic problems, led to the formation of the MMD. The liberal democratic wave that swept through Africa after the collapse of the USSR and communist regimes in eastern Europe spelled an end to several one-party states and military governments on the continent.
Prof Momba writes that, “More simply, however, it might seem that most people wanted a change after 27 years of UNIP government, and MMD leaders won public support by exploiting both this ‘voter fatigue’ and the global shift away from one-party systems.”
After registration on 4 January 1991, MMD’s focus shifted to ending UNIP’s 27-year rule. Multi-party general elections were held on 31 October 1991, which saw the MMD sweep to power in a massive landslide. Chiluba was elected president with 76% of the vote to Kaunda’s 24%, whilst the MMD won 125 of the 150 elected seats in the National Assembly.
In the pic: Convener Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika (far right) with other attendees of the meeting (from left, front row) Vernon Mwaanga, Elias Chipimo Sr, Arthur Wina, Fredrick Chiluba
Reference
Parkie Mbozi, Lusaka Times (2020)