Leçons pour un activisme citoyen efficace : La campagne anti-troisième mandat en Zambie

The research paper examines the 2000-2001 Zambian campaign against President Frederick Chiluba's attempt to secure a third term. It details the government's use of District Administrators to intimidate opponents and the subsequent formation of the Forum Oasis—a coalition of lawyers, religious leaders, and activists. The document highlights the effectiveness of diverse mobilization tactics, such as the use of green ribbons and independent media, and provides lessons for future civic activism and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

• President Frederick Chiluba attempted to manipulate the Zambian constitution to allow a third term, utilizing a newly created Bureau of District Administrators (AD) to mobilize support and intimidate dissidents through violence and insults.
• The government's campaign for a third term involved deceptive practices, including the use of forged signatures from traditional chiefs and the payment of small NGOs and churches to support the president.
• The Forum Oasis was established as an umbrella organization on February 21, 2001, uniting diverse stakeholders including the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), church bodies, and NGOs to defend the constitution.
• A critical turning point occurred on April 11, 2001, when 59 parliamentarians, including several cabinet ministers, signed the 'Cathedral Declaration' opposing the third term, which effectively blocked the necessary constitutional majority of 106 votes.
• The campaign's success was attributed to a 'single message, multiple methods' strategy, employing independent media, symbolic protests like wearing green ribbons, and audible demonstrations such as honking and whistling every Friday at 5 PM.
• The pressure from the Forum Oasis and political dissidents led President Chiluba to announce on May 4, 2001, that he would not seek a third term.
• The authors derive lessons for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), suggesting that National Governance Councils should be led by independent chairs and include broad civil society representation to ensure genuine inclusivity.

APA

Chella, C., & Kabanda, S. (2008). Leçons pour un activisme citoyen efficace : La campagne anti-troisième mandat en Zambie. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-6-FR.pdf

Chicago

Chella, Chomba, and Simon Kabanda. Leçons pour un activisme citoyen efficace : La campagne anti-troisième mandat en Zambie. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2008. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-6-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chella |first1=Chomba |last2=Kabanda |first2=Simon |title=Leçons pour un activisme citoyen efficace : La campagne anti-troisième mandat en Zambie |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-6-FR.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chella2008leons, author = {Chella, Chomba and Kabanda, Simon}, title = {{Leçons pour un activisme citoyen efficace : La campagne anti-troisième mandat en Zambie}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/Occasional-Paper-6-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }