The Herald

50 years ago

LUSAKA, 13 January 1966. — President Kaunda attacked what he alleged was adulteration of parliamentary democracy in “countries to the south of Zambia” when he opened the new Parliamentary buildings in Lusaka.

“In those countries the so-called leaders have chosen a corrupted form of parliamentary government which deliberately denies millions of people their inalienable rights to participate in an effective manner in the choosing of their governments,” he said.

He said that Zambia believes in parliamentary opposition, but that opposition must be responsible and capable of offering what is normally called “constructive criticism”.

On the other hand, he said, “our belied in opposition does not impose a duty on us to take deliberate steps to form or maintain an opposition, whether in Parliament or elsewhere.

“We have always maintained that the choice whether or not to have an opposition lies not with the Government, but with the people at the polls.”