Zambia: The First 50 Years

by Andrew Sardanis

On 24 October 1964, the Republic of Zambia was formed, replacing the territory which had formerly been known as Northern Rhodesia. Fifty years on, Andrew Sardanis provides a sympathetic but critical insider's account of Zambia, from independence to the present. He paints a stark picture of Northern Rhodesia at decolonisation and the problems of the incoming government, presented with an immense uphill task of rebuilding the infrastructure of government and administration – civil service, law, local government and economic development.

Sardanis was a minister at the heart of the government and later a highly successful entrepreneur. As a friend and colleague of many of the most prominent names in post-independence Zambia – from the presidencies of founding leader Kenneth Kaunda to the incumbent Michael Sata – he uses his unique eyewitness experience to provide an inside view of a country in transition. He looks at the highs and lows of Zambia's political a purposeful beginning followed by many blunders; confusion, at times bordering on chaos, interspersed with flashes of sensible action and good work.

This book provides a detailed examination of the major events in Zambia's history since independence and their effect on the country's development and progress, based on Sardanis's in-depth knowledge of Zambia and its people and the inner workings of its government.

Genres: Africa, Zambia

336 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2014

Reviews

[Goodwell Mateyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives a good historical account of Zambia's first 50 years. The material is well researched and the book benefits from the author's close association with the nation's leaders especially in the post-colonial period. However, he tries too hard to explain the failures of the first government (perhaps having been too close to the government at the time) such that he largely sounds like an apologist for that government. As a result, he glosses over the poor human rights record, even justifies some of the catastrophic economic policies of Kenneth Kaunda's government. Similarly, he doesn't mention the fact that he presided over a bank failure in the 1990s and some of his less savoury associations with the government of Frederick Chiluba do not find disclosure in the book. In places, the author's conclusions are naive and contrary to the evidence he presents especially on aspects of mining taxation. Overall, a good and informative read, written with good style and with the natural instinct of a former journalist.

[Robert Jere · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ambitious and well written book. The author traces the political and economic history of the country from independence in 1964 to the second decade of the 21st century. Andrew Sardanis was deeply involved in the in the highly consequential economic decisions of the first president of Zambia. Keeping that in mind helps to understand some of the unbalanced assessments in the book. For example, the author is very accommodating to the authoritarian regime of Kenneth Kaunda while highly critical of the democratic administrations of the second and third presidents. This is just to say that the book has the obvious biases one would expect from such a point of view.
The book goes to some length to justify the nationalisation policies of the first president. While i did not find the reasons convincing, i learnt a lot about the thinking at the time. The author also gives his views about the policies that subsequent governments have put in the mining industry.
Generally, the book seems to suggest that Zambia had been making slow political progress until the election of Michael Sata in 2011. It compares the sata government to the one party state under Kaunda.
Economically, the book suggests that the first president had the right ideas only badly implemented. This was the most difficult part for me to understand in the whole book. Although Zambia has certainly been improving i standards of living during the time the book criticised.
This is a book that should be read by any Zambian who is interested in the history of the country.

[Peterh2119]

I'm somewhere around on page 70th. My only problem with this book that is incredibly dry and over-detailed, long pages with dense and intricate political parties and, companies, legislative councils, organizations, marketing boards, development corporations, central committee, loads of names, tribes, provinces, confusing ownerships through the British, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, British South African Company, a full-page long piece from the shares of the mining ownership "INDECO will issue Bond guaranteed by the government and bearing interest at 6 percent. The agreement includes a special provision whereby payments can be accelerated by paying two-thirds of the dividends received from each group if this sum exceeds the fixed annual payments"

After many pages, I feel like my brain is fried. This is sad, because I'm really interested in this book, but literally wading through every single page, would have been much better if it was a bit less detailed and more layman-friendly.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's quite difficult to get through this book with a positive feeling about the long-term prospects for the country and people of Zambia - at least as the story of Zambia's first 50 years is told by Mr. Sardanis. But then he goes and turns the epilogue into a positive story in a way that saved this book a bit for me. Overall I'd say that the work stands as a testament to his brilliant (and rarely followed, as he regularly laments) ideas about how to manage the country's finances, economy, education, immigration policy...etc.

All that said, I am now very happy to say that I have a much richer appreciation for a place on the earth that I really never knew much about otherwise. And, as I'll be heading there to spend time with some friends one day, I feel comfortable that I know enough to make me a little bit better tourist than I'd otherwise be.

[Mariavv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly readable, and though it is of course biased because the author was more or less in the middle of everything that went on, it gives a good overview of the struggles Zambia has faced and the progress it has made since independence. It's also quite inspiring, as the author describes the hope and pride felt when Zambia became independent, and despite all the many problems and disappointments since still has eye for the progress made, and still feels hopeful for and proud of his country.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book as I left for two weeks of volunteer work in Zambia. It was very interesting to contrast what I read in this "inside-government" account with the reality I saw on the ground and the view of locals. Actually, though, I found Sardanis to be very frank in confronting the problems of the country, and I was in awe of his ability to see behind the curtain the rest of us barely discern. It was a valuable read.

[B. Mulenga Sindala · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insight of the first 50 years of Zambia's independence from someone who has lived through it and somewhat unbiased. If you want to learn the history of Zambia's independence, I would recommend this book.

[Josh Slevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good boom, at times heavy on the details of specific accounts but an attempt made to remain impartial/ acknowledge his own biases. Nice to hear some positive few points about zambians and the progress made

[Miyanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good good read that puts Zambia's political, governance and economic history in to perspective.

He made it make sense in simple terms.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A political and cultural history of Zambia by a man who was instrumental in creation of the country. Very interesting background and context, particularly for a visitor to Zambia. When one looks at what has been achieved, it puts into better context the challenges the country still faces. Also very valuable for the Westerner who has likely not heard the other side of the story when it comes to aid, economic development and the agendas of the various countries (EU, China, USA, etc.). A bit dry at times, but definitely held my interest.

[Patrick Slavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insider's account and overview on Zambia's history by one of its greatest sons; especially strong on presenting how poorly Government has managed the country's rich copper mines and how little the sector has provided to the state Treasury - a great loss to a poor yet emerging nation. As with author's other two books, well written and researched.

[The Contented · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally done! As an economic history of Zambia, this was invaluable

[Joakim1011 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read, Explains why certain things are the way they are Zambia. I would recommend it to anyone looking to gain some knowledge on certain events that happened in Zambia.