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MOVEMENT
FOR MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY
The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) is a political party in Zambia. Originally formed in response to the general discontent in the nation due to economic mismanagement and poor governance ,by the previous government of UNIP led by Dr Kenneth David Kaunda. MMD controlled an absolute majority in parliament between 1991 and 2001, when its past leader, Frederick Chiluba was president of the country. Its election into power in 1991 ended the 27 year rule of the United National Independence Party .To date it remains the dominant party within Zambian politics.
PARTY
GENESIS AND THE FIRST ELECTIONS
In 1990, growing opposition to UNIP's monopoly on power, due in part to food shortages and a general economic decline led to the rise of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). Begun as a coalition party with the specific goal of ousting UNIP, MMD gradually assembled an increasingly impressive group of important Zambians from all walks of life, including prominent UNIP defectors and labor leaders
During that same year, pushed by internal and international pressure, President Kaunda agreed to a referendum on the one-party state but, in the face of continued opposition, dropped the referendum and signed a constitutional amendment making Zambia a multi-party state.
Zambia's first multi-party elections
for parliament and the presidency since the 1960s were
held on October 31, 1991. MMD candidate Frederick
Chiluba resoundingly carried the presidential election
over Kenneth Kaunda with 81% of the vote. To add to
the MMD landslide, in the parliamentary
elections the MMD won 125 of the 150 elected seats
and UNIP the remaining 25.
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Patrick Mwanawasa
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