United Party (Zambia)

The United Party was a political party in Zambia.

History

The party was established in mid-1966 by two Lozi-speaking MPs, one from the United National Independence Party (Dickson Chikulo) and one from the Zambian African National Congress (Mufaya Mumbuna).[1] It was originally named the United Front before becoming the United Party.[2] The founders were later joined by other prominent political figures, including former minister Nalumino Mundia, who became its president. The defections resulted in by-elections being called, with only Chikulo standing for re-election (and losing).[3]

The party grew rapidly, but was banned in August 1968 after the government blamed it for violence.[4] It subsequently merged into the ZANC.[5]

References

1. William Tordoff (1974) Politics in Zambia, University of California Press, p22
2. Miles Larmer (2013) Rethinking African Politics: A History of Opposition in Zambia, Ashgate Publishing, p139
3. Tordoff, p205
4. Tordoff, p156
5. Tordoff, p306