United Progressive Party (Zambia)

United Progressive Party is a historical political party in Zambia.

Development

The UPP is an offshoot of the United National Independence Party in August 1971. Founded by Simon Kapwepwe and others taking caused a serious government and cabinet crisis, in whose consequence Kapwepwe and four other ministers from the former president and chairman of the UNIP, Kenneth Kaunda, were dismissed. In the elections on December 21, 1971 Kapwepwe could win a mandate in the National Assembly of Zambia for the UPP. Kaunda responded quickly. On February 4, 1972, he accused Kapwepwe, an instrument of the white government of Rhodesia to be South Africa and the Portuguese. Kapwepwe and 122 of his followers were arrested and banned the UPP. That same year, the one-party state was proclaimed for Zambia and Kaunda felt secure enough that he was released from prison Kapwepwe on 31 December 1972. This withdrew from politics and joined only in 1978 briefly to the public, how Harry Nkumbula to compete against Kaunda, as nominated by the UNIP candidate for the presidency. Kapwepwe and Nkumbula were outmaneuvered by Kaunda. Kaunda was able to secure the nomination, while his opponents finally disappeared from the political scene of Zambia.