Zambian African National Congress | |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 1948 (as theNorthern Rhodesia Congress) |
| Banned | 1973 |
| Ideology |
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| International affiliation | African National Congress (South Africa) |
TheZambian African National Congress was apolitical party inZambia. It was established as theNorthern Rhodesia Congress, which was the first nationalist political organization inNorthern Rhodesia.
TheNorthern Rhodesia Congress (NRC), also known as theNorthern Rhodesia African Congress (NRAC), was formed in July 1948, at the second congress of the Northern Rhodesia Federation of Welfare Societies.Godwin Lewanika, aBarotseland native from anaristocratic background, became the first president.[1][2][3] It was the first African political party in the country. NRC had its roots in theFederation of Welfare Societies, active between 1940 and 1946.[3] In 1951 the party adopted the nameNorthern Rhodesian African National Congress (NRANC) under the presidency ofHarry Nkumbula, and was linked to theAfrican National Congress inSouth Africa. In 1953Kenneth Kaunda became the general secretary of the organization.
The NRANC was the leading force of Northern Rhodesian nationalism in the 1950s. It opposedfederation, and boycotted shops where thecolour bar was implemented. In 1955 Nkumbula was imprisoned for possessing banned literature. In 1957 he visited London, gaining some support from theBritish Labour Party.[4]
In 1958 the party was divided on whether to participate in the1959 Northern Rhodesian general election, in which only a minority of the black population was allowed to vote. The moreradical Kaunda broke away, and formed theZambia African National Congress, which was banned in 1959. The NRANC won a single seat in the elections. In the1962 general elections the party won seven seats, becoming the third-largest faction in the Legislative Assembly and held the balance of power. Prior to the elections Nkumbula had made a secret electoral pact with theUnited Federal Party, but decided to form a government with theUnited National Independence Party.
The party won ten seats in the1964 general elections, and following independence, was renamed theZambian African National Congress. Nkumbula ran for president in the1968 general elections, finishing second to Kaunda with 18% of the vote. The party won 23 of the 110 seats in theNational Assembly, remaining the mainopposition party.
In 1973 the party was banned,[5] as the country became a one-party state.
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