History of Zambia Timeline

In 1953, both Rhodesias were joined with Nyasaland (now Malawi) to form the Central African Federation, an unpopular arrangement for many Africans that fueled nationalist movements until it was dissolved at the end of 1963.

Image source: Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

In 1960, the British prime minister, Harold Macmillan, declared that the age of colonial rule in Africa was ending, signaling Britain's acceptance of African independence movements.

Image source: Wind of Change (speech)

A two-stage election held in October and December 1962 resulted in an African majority in the legislative council and an uneasy coalition between the two African nationalist parties.

Finally, on 31 December 1963, the federation was dissolved, allowing Northern Rhodesia to proceed toward full independence as a sovereign state.

On 24 October 1964, Northern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zambia, ending British colonial rule and beginning the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda. The Republic of Zambia was formed out of Northern Rhodesia on 23 October 1964, with independence celebrated on 24 October.

Image source: Zambia

In 1968 Kenneth Kaunda was re-elected as president, consolidating his leadership of the newly independent nation.

Image source: Kenneth Kaunda

Kenneth Kaunda served as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1970 to 1973, positioning Zambia as a leading voice among developing nations.

Internationally, Zambia was an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and hosted a summit in Lusaka in 1970, raising its diplomatic profile.

Image source: Non-Aligned Movement

Rhodesian counterinsurgency operations extended into Zambia after ZIPRA rebels shot down two unarmed Vickers Viscount civilian airliners — Air Rhodesia Flight 825 on 3 September 1978 and Flight 827 on 12 February 1979 — using Soviet-supplied SA-7 missiles.

Image source: Air Rhodesia Flight 825

In retaliation for the shooting down of Flight 825, the Rhodesian Air Force attacked the ZIPRA guerrilla base at Westlands farm near Lusaka in October 1978, warning Zambian forces by radio not to interfere.

In 1972 all political parties except UNIP were banned, formalized in a new constitution adopted in 1973, ushering in single-party rule under Kenneth Kaunda.

Under one-party rule, Kaunda was re-elected unopposed with a yes or no vote in 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1988.

Between 1975 and 1990 Zambia's economy dropped by approximately 30%, driven largely by declining copper prices and mounting debt.

Chisembele later rejoined the Cabinet as Minister for Eastern Province, and in 1977 he was transferred in the same position to the Copperbelt Province, where the political situation was tense ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Simon Kapwepwe and Harry Nkumbula challenged the resultant 1978 election of President Kaunda in the High Court, but their action was unsuccessful.

Several strikes hit the country in 1981 as economic hardship deepened under the one-party state.

In 1986 and 1987, protests arose again in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, reflecting growing discontent with austerity measures and economic decline.

Riots over rising food prices erupted in 1990, in which at least 30 people were killed, intensifying pressure on Kaunda's government to reform.

An attempted military takeover occurred in 1990, but the Zambian coup d'état attempt failed, further weakening the one-party regime's grip on power.

After a new constitution had been drafted, elections were held in 1991. When one-party rule was abolished, many expected a more democratic future for Zambia.

Image source: 1991 Zambian general election

In 1993, the government-owned Times of Zambia reported a story about a secret UNIP plan to take control of government by unconstitutional means, called the 'Zero Option Plan', leading to a state of emergency and tensions between government and opposition.

Prior to the 1996 elections, UNIP formed an alliance with six other opposition parties to challenge the ruling MMD.

Image source: 1996 Zambian general election

In 1997 matters escalated when soldiers attempted a coup against President Chiluba. Former president Kenneth Kaunda was detained amid the crackdown and released in June the following year. Fifty-four of the soldiers who took part in the coup were convicted and sentenced to death.

Prior to the 2001 elections, Frederick Chiluba tried to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term, but he stood down after huge public protests.

Image source: Frederick Chiluba

The death sentences of the convicted soldiers were appealed to Zambia's supreme court in 2003, which commuted the sentence for ten soldiers but upheld the death sentence for the other 44.

In 2004, Zambia's president Levy Mwanawasa commuted the death sentence for 22 of the coup plotters and released 14 of them as having served their prison sentence.

Image source: Levy Mwanawasa

President Levy Mwanawasa died in office in 2008, becoming the first Zambian leader to die in office. Rupiah Banda served as president after his death from 2008 to 2011.

Image source: Rupiah Banda

Rupiah Banda lost the election to Michael Sata in 2011. From 2011 to 2014 Sata served as president of Zambia until he died on 28 October 2014, the second Zambian leader to die in office.

Image source: Michael Sata

On 24 January 2015, it was announced that Edgar Chagwa Lungu had won the election to become the 6th President of Zambia in a tightly contested race.

Image source: Edgar Lungu

In the August 2016 Zambian general election, president Edgar Lungu won re-election narrowly in the first round of voting.

Image source: 2016 Zambian general election

In the August 2021 presidential election, opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema defeated incumbent President Edgar Lungu by a landslide, marking a major political transition.

Image source: 2021 Zambian general election

On 24 August 2021, Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in as the new President of Zambia, beginning a new chapter in the country's democratic history.

Image source: Hakainde Hichilema