Middle Class Politics in Zambia

In: African affairs: the journal of the Royal African Society, Volume 77, Issue 308, p. 321-334

Abstract

The formation & eventual decline of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) in Zambia represents an interesting variation to a characteristic transformation from populist to middle class oriented politics experienced in many postindependence African nations. High copper prices meant economic & political prosperity for the Zambian government in the years following independence. The UNIP was able to make use of the copper revenue in the establishment of a patronage system, which served to enhance its popularity with the citizens. As long as the party had sufficient revenue to fulfill campaign promises & maintain patronage to local leaders, the UNIP enjoyed growth & stability. With a decline in copper prices, however, came a resurfacing of party factions. UNIP policies had fostered the development of a middle class on whom it came to depend. With declining resources at hand, the classless orientation that had characterized the early party began to erode, as the new elitist class sought to retain its special position above the masses. The UNIP experience is unique in terms of the length of time it was to suppress inherent class differences that had temporarily united in a common bid for freedom. P. Hoye