Causes of political conflicts between Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND), 2015 to 2019.
Date
2022-06-11
Authors
Mujuda, M Emily
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Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Zambia has witnessed several political conflicts from the introduction of multiparty democracy such as disputed general election results, succession disputes in political parties, abuse of the Public Order Act, tribalism, among others. Efforts to resolve political conflicts have not been achieved, hence this study. The purpose of this study was to establish the causes of political conflicts between the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) between 2015 and 2019. The study objectives were to: establish the causes of political conflicts between PF and UPND between 2015 and 2019; establish the causes of inter-party conflicts between PF and UPND; examine the nature of inter-party conflicts between PF and UPND between 2015 and 2019; establish factors that lead to non-adherence to third party led conflict resolutions by both parties. A case study approach was adopted for this research which also employed a qualitative method. The population comprised members of the PF and UPND, the Church and Civil society. The sample size was 20. Purposive sampling was employed to select the participants in the study largely because the target audience for the study was pre-determined. The instrument for data collection was a semi structured Interview Guide. Data were analyzed thematically. The study revealed that conflicts between the then ruling PF and opposition UPND (now ruling) were due to unruly PF party cadres. PF. PF party cadres were always in- charge and above the law. All the participants also linked the inter-party conflicts between PF and UPND to political leaders who were also unruly. The findings also revealed that the nature of inter-party conflicts between the two rival parties during the period under review was a result of selective application of the law, and politics of patronage. The UPND advocated for the rule of the law which was not demonstrated by the PF. Furthermore, the study revealed both parties did not use local third parties to resolve their differences and neither did they adhere to the Republican Constitution. The recommendations were that political parties, especially the party in power, should see to it that the rule of law should be followed; the party in power should not be selective in applying the law; all people should be treated equally regardless of one’s political affiliation; and that conflict resolutions could be managed by the local third party organizations that may be familiar with political party conflicts.
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Keywords
Social conflict--Zambia. , Conflict management--Zambia. , Dispute resolution (Law)--Zambia. , Political conflict--Zambia.