ABSTRACT
Democratisation in Zambia can be considered a success story. A massbased popular movement brought sufficient pressure to bear to abolish the one-party state, and the subsequent multi-party elections on 31 October 1991 led to a peaceful change of government. The situation in Zambia offers a perspective on African politics after democratisation: a new political configuration has emerged after twenty-seven years’ rule by the United National Independence Party (UNIP) under the leadership of Kenneth Kaunda. The expression ‘new political configuration’ may be misleading, however. Another political party is in power-the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)—under another president-Frederick Chilubabut major aspects of Zambian politics have not changed. Democratisation was supposed to lead to a parliamentary system of government, but power is still concentrated in the presidency. Legally, Zambia is a multi-party state, but in fact it is ruled by one party. MMD dominates in all regions of the country, except for Eastern Province. Before the introduction of a oneparty state, UNIP dominated in all regions, except Southern Province. There are numerous opposition parties, but they are fragmented and ineffective. As a consequence, three years on, it is within the ruling party, rather than between contending parties, that political competition is to be found.
