Zambian African National Congress

For the short-lived party led by Kenneth Kaunda, see Zambian African National Congress (1958–59).

The Zambian African National Congress was a political party in Zambia.

History

The party was formed in 1948, as the Northern Rhodesia Congress (NRC), and Godwin Lewanika, a Barotseland native from an aristocratic background, became the first president. It was the first African political party in the country. NRC had its roots in the Federation of Welfare Societies, active between 1942 and 1946. In 1951 the party adopted the name Northern Rhodesian African National Congress under the presidency of Harry Nkumbula, and was linked to the African National Congress in South Africa. In 1953 Kenneth Kaunda became the general secretary of the organization.

In 1958 the party was divided on whether to participate in general elections in which only a minority of the black population was allowed to vote. The more radical Kaunda broke away, and formed the Zambian African National Congress, which was banned in 1959. The NRANC won a single seat in the elections. In the 1962 general elections the party won seven seats, becoming the third-largest faction in the Legislative Assembly and held the balance of power. Prior to the elections Nkumbula had made a secret electoral pact with the United Federal Party, but decided to form a government with the United National Independence Party.

The party won ten seats in the 1964 general elections, and following independence, was renamed the Zambian African National Congress. Nkumbula ran for president in the 1968 general elections, finishing second to Kaunda with 18% of the vote. The party won 23 of the 110 seats in the National Assembly, remaining the main opposition.

In 1973 the party was banned, as the country became a one-party state.