By Kwangu Manda,
The year 2003 witnessed a series of parliamentary by-elections across Zambia, following the controversial aftermath of the 2001 General Elections. Public sentiment at the time reflected growing dissatisfaction with the then ruling party, largely stemming from the privatization programme, which many Zambians viewed as unfavorable.
By-elections were held in constituencies such as Solwezi, Kaoma, and Lukulu East. However, one constituency in particular signaled the emergence of a new political wave—Kantanshi, in Mufulira.
Michael Chilufya Sata, who had garnered just about three percent of the national vote in the 2001 elections and secured only one parliamentary seat in the Northern Province, was seeking to recalibrate his political strategy. His perceived closeness to the Chiluba administration had cost him public support. In an effort to reconnect with the electorate and revive his political appeal, Sata turned his focus to the Copperbelt, a region where mine workers were increasingly disillusioned with government policies and where unrest was steadily building.
The death of the late Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Kantanshi Member of Parliament, Dan Kombe, created an opening for a by-election. Alex Manda, a mining engineer who had risen through the ranks of the then Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), emerged as a key political figure in the constituency. Following a fallout with the Heritage Party, Manda aligned himself with Sata under the Patriotic Front (PF), driven by shared concerns over the state of Zambia’s mining sector.
Manda later explained that he joined the PF because he had direct access to the party’s leadership and shared a common vision with Sata and then PF Secretary General, Guy Scott. He went on to secure a landslide victory against the MMD candidate, the late Irene Chisala, in a campaign marred by controversy and incidents of political violence.
Prior to his election, Manda had already gained national attention after testifying before the Supreme Court, where he alleged that a 13-year-old had been allowed to vote in his constituency. He also provided testimony regarding claims that some government officials had illegally acquired ZCCM houses that were intended for mine workers who were sitting tenants. These revelations formed part of the wider housing scandals that followed the Chiluba administration.
Manda’s victory in Kantanshi, widely regarded at the time as against all odds, placed the constituency firmly in the national spotlight. His parliamentary debates attracted significant media attention. In his maiden speech, he famously told then Speaker of the National Assembly, the late Amusaa Mwanamwambwa: “Hear the miners; they are watching.”
Manda strongly opposed the notion that Zambians were incapable of owning and managing the country’s mines. He advocated for government-led empowerment schemes that would enable Zambians to own mining assets, similar to the non-recourse financing model used with Anglo-American in 2002. He argued that local ownership would reduce the risk of capital flight during commodity price downturns and ensure that wealth was retained within the country. He cited the Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Station, which was then Zambian-run, as an example of successful local management.
He also opposed the privatization of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to foreign investors, questioning the nature of the transaction and asserting that Zambians had been operating the mine profitably following Anglo-American’s exit.
Tragically, after serving only six months in Parliament, Manda died under mysterious circumstances, sparking further political controversy. Tensions between the MMD and the PF intensified, with Sata accusing some MMD officials of involvement in Manda’s death.
The subsequent by-election became a closely contested battle between the PF and the MMD, with the UPND endorsing PF candidate Yamfwa Mukanga as Manda’s successor. The PF once again emerged victorious in a landslide, defeating local businessman Thomas Kalimanshi.
By 2006, the Patriotic Front had firmly established itself as a major political force, particularly following the death of UPND founder Anderson Mazoka.
Michael Chilufya Sata would later ascend to the presidency, becoming Zambia’s fifth Head of State, a position he held until his death in 2014. He was succeeded by the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
