ZAMBIA-POLITICS: KAUNDA GETS A KICK FROM COURT

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

JOWIE MWIINGA

LUSAKA, Feb 20 1995 (IPS) - ZAMBIA’S FORMER PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA APPEARED IN A COURTROOM HERE MONDAY CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY — BUT HIS TRIBULATIONS SEEMED MORE A BLESSING FOR HIS POLITICAL CAREER THAN A CURSE.

HUNDREDS OF WELL WISHERS CONVERGED AT THE BUILDING TO SEE KAUNDA (71), ARRESTED AND CHARGED SUNDAY FOR ADDRESSING A RALLY WITHOUT A PERMIT NINE DAYS AGO, AND THE VETERAN POLITICIAN WAS QUICK TO MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL OUT OF THE OCCASION.

“THIS MARKS THE QUEST FOR ZAMBIA’S SECOND LIBERATION,” A JOVIAL KAUNDA TOLD THE PRESS AS HE WALKED OUT OF THE COURT HOUSE AFTER DENYING THE CHARGE.

HE STRUCK A MAJESTIC POSE, STANDING TALL IN A MOTOR VEHICLE AND WAVING HIS TRADEMARK WHITE HANDKERCHIEF AT THE CROWDS.

CAR HORNS BLARED, AND HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS RAN AFTER HIS SIZEABLE CONVOY FOR SEVERAL KILOMETRES, SINGING POLITICAL SONGS AND CHANTING HIS PRAISES.

THE CASE AGAINST THE ELDER STATESMAN WAS REFERRED TO A HIGH COURT TO RULE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE CHARGE.

THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHO TOOK ZAMBIA TO INDEPENDENCE IN 1964 AND RULED FOR 27 YEARS — MUCH OF IT UNDER A SINGLE-PARTY CONSTITUTION — LOST PLURAL ELECTIONS IN 1991 TO FREDERICK CHILUBA AND THE MOVEMENT FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY (MMD).

LAST YEAR, KAUNDA HIT THE COMEBACK TRAIL AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY IN 1996.

RECENTLY, HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO ALLOW HIM TO HOLD AND SPEAK AT POLITICAL MEETINGS. SINCE LAST FRIDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, POLICE HAVE DENIED HIM PERMITS TO STAGE RALLIES AT LEAST TWICE.

A WEEK AGO, SEVEN KAUNDA SUPPORTERS WERE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED ILLEGAL ASSEMBLY.

KAUNDA CLAIMS HIS RETURN TO ACTIVE POLITICS IS MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM THE “CORRUPT AND IRRESPONSIBLE” GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT CHILUBA.

FOR MOST OF LAST YEAR HE TOURED THE COUNTRY, WHIPPING UP SUPPORT FOR HIS CANDIDATURE.

BANGING THE POPULIST DRUM, THE LEFT-LEANING KAUNDA HAS PROMISED THE ELECTORATE THAT HE WOULD SLOW DOWN THE EFFECTS OF HARSH ECONOMIC REFORMS, REINTRODUCE SOME SUBSIDIES AND CUT FOOD PRICES IF HE RETURNED TO POWER.

HE HAS ALSO HINTED THAT HE MAY REVERSE AN ONGOING PRIVATISATION EXERCISE — OR AT LEAST, RESTRICT IT TO NON- ESSENTIAL SECTORS.

FOR SOME ZAMBIANS REELING UNDER THE EFFECTS OF THE DONOR- SUPPORTED STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMME — NECESSITATED BY THE FAILURES OF HIS PAST MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY — KAUNDA IS NOW BEGINNING TO REPRESENT A BEACON OF HOPE.

“KAUNDA’S GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE HAD ITS FAULTS, BUT IT AT LEAST HAD A HUMANE FACE. THIS ONE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE,” LIPIMILE ZULU, A LUSAKA RESIDENT SAID.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS WILLING TO WELCOME THE FORMER PRESIDENT BACK TO THE POLITICAL ARENA, FROM WHICH HE WAS SO CONVINCINGLY SWEPT AWAY IN 1991, WITH OPEN ARMS.

HIS COMEBACK BID HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BADLY RECEIVED BY MMD SUPPORTERS, SOME OF WHOM SUFFERED UNDER HIS HEAVY-HANDED REGIME.

SOON AFTER HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS RUNNING IN 1996, FOR INSTANCE, KAUNDA FOUND HIMSELF STRIPPED OF THE ‘FREEDOM OF THE CITY’ STATUS ENDOWED ON HIM EARLIER BY LUSAKA MAYOR FISHO MWALE.

PRO-GOVERNMENT ACTIVISTS ROUTINELY DISRUPT MEETINGS HE ATTENDS, OFTEN SPARKING OFF INTER-PARTY FREE-FOR ALLS.

KAUNDA BLAMES THE RULING PARTY FOR THE VIOLENCE THAT MARKS HIS RALLIES. THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE OTHER HAND, ACCUSES HIM OF FANNING CIVIL STRIFE IN THE HOPE OF MAKING THE COUNTRY UNGOVERNABLE.

“KAUNDA MUST BE CAGED. HE IS A DANGEROUS ANIMAL THAT MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE HE DOES ANY DAMAGE,” AN MMD SUPPORTER SAID. “IF HE CAN NOT RULE THE COUNTRY, HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE WILL.”