Zambia at 5O! Golden Jubilee Celebrations

Zambia at 50 logo and the Northern Rhodesia coat of Arms

24th of October was the biggest day for Zambians across the globe. Zambia turned 50 years old! We gained independence back in 1964 from the colonial rule. This was a golden Jubilee celebration and the biggest celebration the country has had in the past recent years...I think since we won the Africa cup back in 2012 (it was a mass celebration and everyone took a day off from work to celebrate, i was part of this celebration).

Zambian coat of Arms

Zambia was formally known as the Northern Rhodesia ruled by the British colony. It was part of the Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Nyasaland (now Malawi). Zambia broke off the chains and gained independence from the colonial rule under the leadership of Dr Kenneth Kaunda who became Zambia's first president. Kenneth Kaunda was the leader of the United National Independence Party (UNIP). In 1968 Kaunda was re-elected as president, running unopposed.

From the time of Independence in 1964 to 1991, the country had only one political party policy till 1991 when the multy party democracy was introduced, this resulted in the quick formation of eleven new parties, among these was the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) led by Fredrick Chiluba. After the new constitution had been drafted, elections were held in 1991 and they were regarded as free and fair. Fredrick Chiluba won 76% of the president vote and MMD 125 of the 250 seats in the National Assembly with UNIP taking the remaining 25 seats and that was the end of UNIP. I remember when these elections were conducted, i was about five years old but i remember the chaos that came with the elections. Removing UNIP from power didn't happen without a fight, but MMD was the people's favourite and the people needed change.

The Zambian Flag

Since 1964, Zambia has seen five heads of states.

FIRST; Dr Kenneth Kaunda from 1964-1991. Who became the vegetarian in protest against ban of Africans entering bucthers and the first leader to admit publicly that a family member had died from HIV/AIDS.

SECOND; Fredrick Chiluba from1991-2002. At just over 1.5m tall, he was fond of wearing platform shoes, hence the nickname "Short Stuff". He was stripped off his immunity from prosecution on corruption charges. He died in June, 2011 at age 68.

THIRD; Patrick Levy Mwanawasa from 2002-2008. He became known by his bad temper after a serious traffic accident which occurred on the 8th December, 1991. He was nicknamed "tiger". Mwanawasa was one of the few African leaders to condemn the Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe publicly. He died in office on August 19th, 2008 at a hospital in Paris, France at age 59.

FOURTH; Rupiah Banda from 2008-2011. The die-hard football fun and a big fun for Arsenal football club. He is the second president in the Zambian history to have his presidential immunity removed.

FIRTH; Michael Chilufya Sata from 2011-present. His nicknamed "King Cobra", the name came about because of abrasive manner and his sharp tongue.

THE FIVE ZAMBIAN HEADS OF STATES FROM 1964-PRESENT (2014)

ZAMBIA AT 50! THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS IN PICTURES.

A Chinese martial Arts performs at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka

The first Zambian President Dr Kenneth Kaunda with the current Vice-President Dr Guy Scott

Performance at the stadium

Kids from Naboonga Private School celebrating in style

My friend and I celebrating in style in Denmark

OH YES!!!!!!!! WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOD BLESS OUR NATION! 5O YEARS OF PEACE AND STABILITY. CONGRATULATIONS ZAMBIA!

(On a sad NOTE; The President Michael Chilufya Sata died in London yesterday while this post was being published. Zambia now has the Vice-president Dr Guy Scott as the acting president till we hold elections within the next 90 days)

MHSRIP

MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA (1937 - 2014)