GENERAL NEWS

A chronology of some key events in Zambia’s history ( c. 1000 to 18 June 2011)

17/11/2014

Zambia’s 50th anniversary of Independence is celebrated by members of the First Presbyterian Church of Sullivan Sunday afternoon.

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Zambia Timeline

A chronology of key some events in Zambia’s history ( c. 1000 to 18 June 2011)

c. 1000	Bantu speaking peoples migrating from the north settle in the region.
c. 1100	Shona peoples fist arrive in region.
c. 1300	Shona people establish the Mwene Mutapa empire which includes southern Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
c. 1500	Luba and Lunda peoples arrive in region.
1796	First Portugese explorer, Manuel Caetano Pereira, crosses the Luangwa River from Mozambique.
1835	Nguni people (Makololo) settle in region, fleeing Shaka’s Zulu expansion (mfecane) to the south. They conquer the Lozi and install a new elite.
1851	David Livingstone exploring Upper Zambizi.
1855	Livingstone at Victoria Falls.
1890s	Cecil Rhodes gains treaty rights for Barotseland.
1889	British control Northern Rhodesia through system of indirect rule.
1891	Lozi people acquire British protection.
1898	Nguni rebel against British South Africa Company.
1900	British South Africa Company obtains mining rights to region from King Lewanika of Barotseland.
1911	Barotseland and neighboring BASC territories brought together as Northern Rhodesia

c. 1920	Vast copper reserves discovered, particularly at Broken Hill. Prompts migration of European miners and entrepreneurs.
1924	Administration of Northern Rhodesia taken over by British colonial office.
1953-63	Part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (aka Central African Federation).
1959	Kenneth Kaunda is detained for nationalist activity.
1960	United National Independence Party (UNIP) formed by Kenneth Kaunda. UNIP campaign for dissolution of the federation and for independence.
1961	UNIP banned.
1963	Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved
24 October 1964	Independence. Northern Rhodesia renamed Zambia. First president is Kenneth Kaunda of the United National Independence Party (UNIP).
1970	Zambian government takes controlling interest in copper mining.
1972	UNIP now one-party government.
1973	Border with Rhodesia closed by its white settler regime.
1975	Tan-Zam railroad, which links the Copper Belt to the Indian Ocean at Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, is opened. This railroad, built with Chinese aid, will reduce Zambia’s dependence on trade through Rhodesia and South Africa.
1982-91	Austerity measures introduced amid accusations of corruption. Call for democracy increases. Civil unrest and riots.
1990	Ahead of a change to the constitution, opposition parties are legalized.
1991	Multi-party constitution introduced.
2 November 1991	Frederick Chiluba, for the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), wins against Kaunda.
1993	State of Emergency introduced. UNIP (Kaunda’s party) carries out a campaign of civil disobedience.
1996	Constitution is amended — effectively bars Kaunda from nomination as president candidate. Chiluba is reelected as president.
1997	Failed coup attempt. Kaunda implicated.
1999	Fifty-nine soldiers sentenced to death for treason and the part they played in ’97s attempted coup.
2000	Fighting between UNITA and Angolan forces crosses border into Zambia.
May 2001	Ministers opposed to Chiluba running for third term as president split away form MMD to form Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD).
July 2001	Paul Tembo is assassinated. Chiluba’s ex-campaign manager was due to testify against three prominent government ministers for corruption.
2 January 2002	Levy Mwanawasa sworn in as president.
2002	Government votes to remove ex-president Chiluba’s immunity from prosecution.
February 2003	Chiluba arrested.
December 2003	Mwanawasa commutes death sentences on 44 soldiers from the ’97 coup attempt.
September 2004	Only hours after charges are dropped against Chiluba for corruption he is re-arrested on six new counts.
2005	World Bank dept relief wipes half of Zambia’s dept. President Mwanawasa declares national disaster and calls for international food aid.
2007	British high court rules that ex-president Chiluba conspired with four aids to embezzle $46 million from Zambia.
29 June 2008	Rupiah Bwenzani Banda becomes acting president due to Mwanawasa suffering a stroke.
19 August 2008	Levy Mwanawasa dies in Paris, France.
2 November 2008	MMD’s Rupiah Bwenzani Banda elected president after narrow election win.
August 2009	Chiluba cleared of corruption. Head of anti-corruption force is sacked after he calls for an appeal against acquittal.
January 2011	Clashes in Western provinces as former Barotseland calls for secession.
18 June 2011	Chiluba dies.