At 62, Zambia struggles continues, says Chiputa
By Thandizo Banda
ZAMBIA may be 62, but the struggle for a better Zambia continues, historian Dr Euston Chiputa has said.
In an interview with The Mast yesterday, Dr Chiputa, a former University of Zambia (UNZA) lecturer, said the country had come a long way since independence in 1964, though not without growing challenges.
“We are where we are, except that we have faced challenges along the way. Even most developed countries such as the United States have challenges, and so we also have our own challenges,” he said.
Dr Chiputa said Zambians remained resilient, working to secure a better future for themselves and the generations to come.
“As Zambians at 62, we are where we ought to be, with citizens working to better their welfare, including that of their children and their children’s children,” he said.
Dr Chiputa said successive governments grappled with the same core challenge of tackling poverty, growing the economy and creating jobs for young people and economic growth.
“We’ve witnessed successive governments trying hard to improve the economy and create jobs for citizens,” he said.
On the political front, Dr Chiputa said the 62-year journey had been marked by recurring electoral disputes, including contests around general elections such as the just-ended disputed August 13 election that has seen 18 people detained for treason.
He said that while elections remain central to Zambia’s democracy, disputed outcomes often test national unity and public trust, with successive governments facing petitions and court challenges after polls.
“Political contestation is part of our growth. What matters is how we resolve it within the law while keeping the country together,” he said.
Dr Chiputa said managing post-election disputes through dialogue and respect for institutions of governance would remain critical as Zambia consolidates its democratic growth.
He said, looking ahead of 62 years after independence, Zambia should focus on citizen empowerment and poverty reduction.
Dr Chiputa said government must craft deliberate policies that allow Zambians to own and drive the local economy, rather than leaving it in foreign hands only
“You can be capitalist and still allow citizens to own the economy without necessarily going socialist. The idea is to craft policies that enable citizens to create and grow wealth and attract more citizens to join,” he said.
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