Zambia: Information on reports of deportation to Malawi of United National Independence Party (UNIP) members and supporters in 1994 and 1995
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZMB25749.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zambia: Information on reports of deportation to Malawi of United National Independence Party (UNIP) members and supporters in 1994 and 1995, 1 December 1996, ZMB25749.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6accb90.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995, the pace for constitutional reform in Zambia increased in Zambia during 1995 (1996, 299). The 24-member Constitutional Review Commission completed its work and delivered a draft constitution to the President in June 1995 (ibid.). The draft reportedly contained a clause that would bar former President Kauda from running for the presidency in 1996 (ibid.). "The draft contained controversial clauses that would require a candidate's parents to have been born in Zambia;" Kaunda's parents were born in Malawi (ibid.). Consequently, the government tried to use this excuse to plan the arrest and deportation of Kaunda, former president and leader of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), to Malawi on the ground that he is not a Zambian. (Xinhua 18 Oct. 1995).
A 30 August 1995 Inter Press Service report states that two members of the Central Committee of the UNIP, which ruled Zambia for 27 years, were expelled to Malawi in 1995 under suspicion of being Malawians (ibid.). Among those deported to Malawi was a former UNIP governor (Deutsche Presse-Agentur 26 Oct. 1994). A 6 November 1994 report by the same new agency alleges that another leading member of the UNIP, the chairman for labour, John Chinula, was also deported to Malawi under sedation. John Chinula was reportedly injected with "a tranquiliser drug to remove him from the country peacefully" (ibid.). The deportations were condemned by a former vice-president of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, who "accused the government of blantant disregard of human rights" (ibid., 6 Nov. 1994).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports for Human on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 6 November 1994. BC Cycle. "Zambian Government Accused of Rights Abuse." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 October 1994. BC Cycle. "Politician in Zambia Deported to Malawi." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 30 August 1995. Joe Chilaizya. "Zambian-Human Rights: Alien Encounters of the Extreme Kind." (NEXIS)
Xinhua News Agency. 18 October 1995. "Zambian Police Enhance Deployment in Capital." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Country Reports for Human on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 6 November 1994. BC Cycle. "Zambian Government Accused of Rights Abuse." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 October 1994. BC Cycle. "Politician in Zambia Deported to Malawi." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 30 August 1995. Joe Chilaizya. "Zambian-Human Rights: Alien Encounters of the Extreme Kind." (NEXIS)
Xinhua News Agency. 18 October 1995. "Zambian Police Enhance Deployment in Capital." (NEXIS)
