Page "Kenneth Kaunda" Paragraph 21

From 1964 onwards, Kaunda's government developed clearly authoritarian characteristics.

Becoming increasingly intolerant of opposition, Kaunda banned all parties except UNIP, following violence during the 1968 elections.

However, in early 1972 he faced a new threat in the form of Simon Kapwepwe's decision to leave UNIP and found a rival party, the United Progressive Party, which Kaunda immediately attempted to suppress.

Next, he appointed the Chona Commission, which was set up under the chairmanship of Mainza Chona in February 1972.

Chona's task was to make recommendations for a new Zambian constitution which would effecively reduce the nation to a oneparty state.

The commission's terms of reference did not permit it to discuss the possible faults of Kaunda's decision.

ANC party members boycotted Chona's efforts and unsuccessfully challenged the constitutional change in the courts.

The Chona report was based on four months of public hearings and was submitted in October 1972 as a ' liberal ' document.

Finally, Kaunda neutralised Nkumbula by getting him to join UNIP and accept the Choma Declaration on 27 June 1973.

The new constitution was formally promulgated on 25 August.

At the first elections under the new system held that December, Kaunda was the sole candidate.