The territory of modern Zambia has been occupied since the most ancient times. In the end of 1st thousand BC – the beginning of our era local tribes of collectors and hunters have been disseminated by several streams of massive migrations bantujazychnyh the tribes which have come from territory modern Democratic of Republic Congo and Angola, and also southern tribes ngoni. Zambia is considered one of the most ancient centres of occurrence of metallurgy of iron in Tropical Africa. In its territory before arrival of Europeans there was a number small rannegosudarstvennyh and breeding associations (Bemba, East Lund and the Encore) with a high level of development of material culture. In the end of 17 centuries in the northeast of Zambia has arisen strong independent rannegosudarstvennoe education Kazembe. The state Lozi (Barotse), arisen in the middle of 18 centuries in southwest areas of Zambia and existed to the European gain was other very influential political education.
The colonial period. In the end of 18 centuries on territory of modern Zambia Portugueses (M.G.Perejry's expeditions – 1796, F have got. ZH di Laserda-and-almejdy and F.Z.Pintu – 1798–1799). Major F.Z.Pintu has visited the country Barotse. These researches should prepare the further expansion of Portugal in the south of Africa, but plans of Lisbon have faced a competitiveness of such colonial powers, as England and Belgium. In the middle of 19 centuries the European researchers, missionaries and dealers have started to get. The outstanding scientist, the traveller and the humanist, Scottish doctor David Livingston (1813–1873) on the instructions of the London missionary company has made three long expeditions to Africa (having visited and in Zambia), has made a number of valuable ethnographic supervision. In 1890 emissaries of the British South African company based by Sesilem John Rodsom (1853–1902), have imposed to leaders of local African tribes a number of agreements for concession on working out of mineral resources. The same year the Great Britain declared this region (nowadays Zambia and Zimbabwe) sphere of the interests. Aspiring to protect region from penetration there Germany and Portugal, the Great Britain occupied east areas of a riverhead of Zambezi, having entitled them Southern Rhodesia (now it is Zimbabwe). After this she has concluded a number of agreements with leaders of the African tribes taking territory to the north from Zambezi (in 1891 Barotselend has been proclaimed by English protectorate), having transformed and this region in sphere of the influence. Officially this territory has received the name Northern Rodezii in 1911. In 1923–1924 English mountain engineers have found out in bowels Northern Rodezii the richest deposits of copper ores that has transformed it into one of the richest possession of the Great Britain in Africa. In 1953 Northern Rodezija became a component of the central-African Federation (TSAF) which also included Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (nowadays Malawi). In December 1963 central-African Federation has been officially liquidated.
The period of independent development. The first political organisation of indigenous population Northern Rodezii – Federation of associations of well-being – has appeared in 1946. On its base in 1948 the first political party of Africans – the Congress Northern Rodezii (in 1951 it it has been renamed in «the African national Congress Northern Rodezii») has been created. Program ANK condemned a racial barrier, required representation of Africans in controls, introductions of the general suffrage by a principle «one person – one voice». The management the first time had the people preferring peace methods of interaction with the colonial authorities. In 1958 on the basis of one of fractions ANK the National congress of Zambia led by Kenneth Kaundoj is created. The government has forbidden its activity. In 1960 instead of the National congress of Zambia the Incorporated consignment of national independence (JUNIP) is created. K.Kaunda became its leader. On March, 29th 1963 government Northern Rodezii has received the official consent of the Great Britain to an exit from federation. The new constitution which developed for acceleration of process of a delegation of power to the African majority and has encountered resistance from white poselentsev has been accepted. In the beginning 1963 K.Kaunda has headed the first African government Northern Rodezii. On October, 24th 1964 Northern Rodezija it has been proclaimed by an independent state – Republic Zambia. Leader Obedinennoj of a consignment of national independence became its first president. Kenneth Kaunda. In 1973 the new constitution according to which in the country the one-party system was established is accepted. The consignment proclaimed the purpose transition from capitalism to socialism and humanism which liquidations of imperialism should promote, colonialism, neo-colonialism, fascism and racism. The philosophical and social and economic doctrine of party in power JUNIP has been stated in the document Humanism in Zambia. The basic idea «zambijskogo humanism» consisted in construction in Zambia companies of the social justice which has inherited the best lines of a traditional African benefit society in new conditions of commodity-money relations.
Despite the complexities which have arisen because of rupture of economic relations with Southern Rhodesia, within the first decade of independent development there is a fast economic growth of Zambia. It was promoted by preservation of heavy prices for copper and significant foreign aid. Crumbling of prices on copper in the world market has led to deep softening of economy of the country. The economic crisis 80, strike movement, sharp suppression by the government of any oppositional sights have called increase of discontent K.Kaundy's by mode. The congress of trade unions of Zambia (KPZ) tried to counteract approach to the social rights of workers, during this period it was informal opposition to one-party board. In the late eighties the government has undertaken attempts to cut down real wages, to reduce number of jobs in public sector and to reduce grants for maintenance of fixed prices for essential commodities. It has called protest mass actions. In the beginning 90 in Zambia, as well as in a number of other countries of Africa, wide scope was acquired by movement for democratisation and failure of one-party model of political system. On November, 30th 1990 parliament of the country has cancelled item 4 of the active constitution which within seventeen years fixed one-party system existence. The law on multi-party system has been passed. In December of the same year in Zambia the first opposition party – Movement for multi-party democracy, DMD (sometimes in the literature there is its one more name – PDMD) has been registered. The next months 11 more opposition parties officially have been recognised.
Presidential and parliamentary elections 1991 have taken place on October, 31st - on November, 1st in the conditions of multi-party system. DMD has gained a convincing victory, having received 75,8 % of voices of voters. K.Kaunda who has proposed the nominee from JUNIP, has received 24,2 % of voices. Leader DMD Frederik CHiluba, long time the Congress of trade unions of the country heading also became the president of Zambia. Movement (DMD) has received for multi-party democracy in parliament of 69 places, the Incorporated consignment of national development (OPNR) – 49, the Incorporated consignment of national independence (JUNIP) – 13. DMD and F.Chiluba have gained a convincing victory thanks to the slogans: replacement of an authoritative mode with the democratic; creation of the responsible, under control and accountable government; economic crisis stay in the country, improvement of living conditions of the population; struggle against corruption, etc. K.Kaunda, within 27 years stretch holding post of the president of republic, has passed the power as a result of elections on a multi-party basis. Zambia concerns not numerous group of the countries of the African continent in which transition to democratic reforms has occurred peace by.
In March 1993 management JUNIP has published two documents entitled the Zero variant and the Radical action programme in which openly put a problem to take the power. The government has regarded these documents as seditious, and activity JUNIP illegal – its outstanding figures, including three sons K.Kaundy have been seized some. There has begun job the governmental commission of inquiry of activity of the ex-president. The authorities declared in the country state of emergency for a period of three months. By the end of the first term of stay of F.Chiluby on a post of the president (1996) results political and the economic reforms spent by party in power DMD, have appeared rather modest. Rigid realisation of programs of structural reorganisation has caused growth of unemployment and a new coil of inflation (180 %). The opposition accused F.Chiluby's government of corruption, there were disagreements in the maximum echelons of power. The new constitution of Zambia accepted in May 1996 (it has been approved not by a national referendum but only parliament), contained the article, according to which zambijtsy less, than in the third generation could not propose the nominee on a presidential post. Main political contender F.Chiluby on coming elections 1996 – K.Kaunda, – thus, lost possibility to stand on a post of the president as his father was the native of the next Malawi. JUNIP and more six consignments of opposition, protesting against the discrimination amendment to the constitution, boycotted elections which nevertheless have taken place on November, 18th 1996. The victory was gained by party in power, F.Chiluba has been re-elected by an overwhelming poll of voters for the second term, and DMD has received 131 of 150 places in parliament.
In 1997 activity of the opposition headed by former president K.Kaundoj and the leader of Liberally-progressive front by Roger Chongve was stirred up. The opposition dissatisfied with results of elections, has resorted both to claims in a supreme court of judicature, and to direct call-ups to mass protests and demonstrations. The interdiction of the government of F.Chiluby for creation of Islamic parties also promoted political tension strengthening in the country (the Muslim youth and students for this reason boycotted presidential and parliamentary elections 1996). The revolution abortive attempt 1997 (the group of officers of junior ranks led by the captain of Solo has seized radio station and declared power transition to military men, in some hours rebels have been seized) became on October, 28th the culmination of growth of intensity in the country. The government has entered a mode of state of emergency which was saved till February 1998. On the eve of Christmas 1997 on charge in military coup d'etat financing K.Kaunda has been seized. Political tricks of the government of F.Chiluby have caused suspension of financing of the majority (except target) aid programs of IMF and VB, and also isolation of Zambia at the Interafrican level. In the conditions of political pluralism separative tendencies in Barotselende (DMD before elections promised to solve a question of its autonomy) have amplified.
Against difficult social and economic position of the country with new force inner-party discussions in correcting DMD have inflamed. The question on successor F.Chiluby on a post of the president was one of the most painful. In February 1999 as a result of a mass exit from a consignment not only ordinary, but also the high-ranking functionaries and active workers, in DMD there was a next split. The erroneous rate on boycott of elections 1996 has delivered JUNIP out of parliament. Inner-party crisis, for some time the K.Kaundy softened with arrest and struggle for its clearing, was aggravated on the eve of regional elections in a consignment. Unexpected destruction Uezi Kaundy (son K.Kaundy who was the main applicant for a post of leader JUNIP), has aggravated conflicts in a consignment. Attempts of creation of a coalition of opposition parties have not crowned serious success.
Analysts did not exclude, that the unwillingness could retire to push F.Chilubu again to resort to change of the active constitution. So has occurred in the next Namibia where party in power SVAPO has changed the country constitution that has allowed president Sam Nujome to be successfully re-elected on the third term. After long coordination successor F.Chiluby became Levi Mvanavasa. In 2000 it has been unanimously selected by the official candidate from DMD on elections 2001. On presidential elections which have taken place on December, 27th 2001, has won L.Mvanavasa with overweight of all in 2 %.
Having come to the power, he declared "crusade" against corruption, having accused former president F.Chilubu and its environment in corruption and misuse of public funds during a finding at the power. In 2003 on corruption level Zambia took the seventh place among the African states. L.Mvanavasa has switched on in structure of the government of the country of representatives of opposition parties. It is made, under its application, for the purpose to promote national unity and reconciliation. Opposition actions (claims in a supreme court of judicature concerning results of elections 2001, requests to declare impeachment to the president, etc.) Heat political conditions in the country. Struggle for deputy mandates in parliament proceeds: in 2001–2003 11 repeated elections have taken place, but only in four cases it has been dictated by necessity of replacement of the died deputies. Repeated elections have weakened opposition and have led to increase in number of supporters DMD. The new president and its government pursue a policy of realisation of the scheduled programs of economic and social improvement of the country. One of the former leaders of opposition A.Mbikusita-Levanika at the expiration of the first year of a finding at L.Mvanavasy's power has noticed, that the administration of the new president proves, that its words do not disperse from business, and the electoral programme is by degrees realised.
In capital of Zambia to Lusaka on July, 11th 2001 at next meeting OAE top-level the African leaders have unanimously approved the document under the name the New African initiative which became a basis of program nepad – New partnership for development of Africa (NEPAD – New Partnership for Africa's Development) later. Zambia has joined program nepad.
