International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VIII, August 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

The ‘One Zambia One Nation Motto:’ Implication on Multiculturalism

Magasu Oliver¹, Lungu Lackson², Chilufya B. Lewis³, Mulima Owen⁴, Miyoba Matildah Mboma⁵, Mikala Sikaaze Bwalya⁶ and Lucy Kamboni^7
1,³,⁴,⁵, ⁶, ⁷ Kwame Nkrumah University – Kabwe, Zambia
² Chalimbana University – Chongwe, Zambia
Corresponding Author*

Abstract: Zambia is one of the countries in Africa which is largely and predominantly heterogeneous in terms of tribes or ethnic groups. The nation boasts of 73 different ethnic groups each with a different cultural and traditional orientation. This multicultural aspect of the nation was one of the challenges faced by the independent government led by President Kenneth Kaunda and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) in 1964 shortly after gaining control from the colonial masters. It was clear at that time that despite Zambia being one country, it was ethnically divided and that, according to President Kenneth Kaunda, posed a great danger to the unity of the nation. Important to note is the fact that in the decade immediately before and after independence, ethnic tensions remained a distinct threat to Zambian unity. The ethnic divisions, which had fermented in the pre-independence period began to spill-over into the new nation. After independence, ethnicity remained the strongest and most logical form of identification for many Zambians. It was in response to this challenge, to which Kaunda was highly attuned as a result of his own family’s history, that Kaunda developed and effected a political ideology and agenda of nationalist unity. In this article, we argue that the ‘One Zambia One Nation Motto’ was not only meant to unite the 73 ethnic groups in Zambia but also to unite Africa for a common good as expressed by heads of states and representatives at Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda’s state funeral on 02nd July, 2021 at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia. Furthermore, we discuss in this article the implication of ‘One Zambia One Nation Motto’ on multicultural aspect.

Kew Words: Motto; One Zambia One Nation; Ethnic Groups; Multiculturalism

I.INTRODUCTION

This article was written as a way of remembering Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s legacy after his demise on 17th June, 2021. He was born on 28th April, 1924 in Lubwa, Northern Province of Zambia to Malawian parents. He leaves behind a legacy that is unmatched in the political history of Zambia. In this article, he is remembered as a pioneer of the ‘One Zambia One Nation motto,’ an ideology he cherished till his demise.
After independence, Zambia needed to be a united nation despite the fact that it was ethnically diverse. This prompted the government to think of coming up with strategies to ensure a united Zambia. One of such strategies was to come up with a national motto of ‘One Zambia One Nation.’ This national motto was meant to ensure that although Zambia was made up of various ethnic groupings, it was one nation (Prokopenko, 2018). According to Musambachime (2016), this slogan was credited for uniting the country and building a strong foundation of a modern, stable and united nation. Maggie Kaweche reported in the Zambia Daily Mail of 29th August, 2016 that according to Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the first President of the Republic of Zambia, “the One Zambia, One Nation Motto simply means whether you are white, yellow, pink, black, red or green, as long as you are in Zambia, you are a Zambian.” This means that the national motto was meant to unite Zambians.