Zambia Government

A Zambian army lieutenant was captured by soldiers after he announced on state radio today that President Kenneth D. Kaunda had been toppled in a coup following five days of anti-government violence. The announcer, who identified himself in repeated broadcasts as Lt. Mwamba Luchembe of the Signals Corps, was escorted from Radio Zambia's studio on the outskirts of the capital about 90 minutes later.

Zambia's ruling party pushed back to today a vote to help President Frederick Chiluba prolong his rule. The move came after a day in which Chiluba supporters allegedly beat up several dissenting top officials. The ballot on amending the Movement for Multiparty Democracy constitution so Chiluba can remain leader until he is defeated at elections was delayed after four Cabinet ministers and two deputy ministers said young Chiluba supporters attacked them.

Thousands of people watched quietly Thursday as President Kenneth D. Kaunda toured central Lusaka after food riots that killed at least 24 people, but elsewhere in the Zambian capital students held a noisy demonstration calling on him to resign. Kaunda, facing the worst crisis of his 26-year rule, inspected the central shopping district where goods worth thousands of dollars were looted in three days of rioting. "Zambia will not allow itself to be ruled by thuggery," the 66-year-old leader said.

A series of recent authoritarian actions by the government of Zambian President Frederick Chiluba is sending disturbing signals that the country, traditionally a bulwark of stability in southern Africa, may be returning to a system of repressive autocracy. The recent jailing without charge of former President Kenneth D.

The people of Zambia, their economy in a shambles, go to the polls Thursday for the country's first multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections in 17 years. And diplomats say President Kenneth D. Kaunda's ruling party could have its 27-year hold on power ended by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, a coalition of labor, business, farming and religious leaders led by trade unionist Frederick Chiluba. The campaign has been intense and bitter, and former U.S.

Frederick Chiluba, a trade union leader who overwhelmingly defeated President Kenneth D. Kaunda to win Zambia's first multi-party elections in nearly a quarter-century, was sworn in Saturday as president. "The stream of democracy, dammed up for 27 years, is finally free to run its course as a mighty African river," Chiluba, 46, said at his inauguration.

Zambia's ruling party pushed back to today a vote to help President Frederick Chiluba prolong his rule. The move came after a day in which Chiluba supporters allegedly beat up several dissenting top officials. The ballot on amending the Movement for Multiparty Democracy constitution so Chiluba can remain leader until he is defeated at elections was delayed after four Cabinet ministers and two deputy ministers said young Chiluba supporters attacked them.

Zambian President Kenneth D. Kaunda, in a surprise offer of reconciliation to his political foes, announced Wednesday the release of all political prisoners and agreed to postpone a referendum on multi-party rule. "I am sending a strong message of love to those who are insulting me and my colleagues to stop doing that," he said. The referendum previously set for Oct. 17 this year would be put off until Aug. 13, 1991, he told a news conference.

President Kenneth D. Kaunda approved new laws legalizing opposition parties, ending 17 years of one-party rule. In signing constitutional amendments allowing for a return to multi-party democracy, Kaunda promised elections before September, 1991.

In a political thunderbolt, Zambians voting in their first multi-party democratic election in 23 years unseated President Kenneth D. Kaunda, the country's only leader through its 27 years of independence. His opponent, Frederick Chiluba, said at a news conference in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, that Kaunda phoned him Friday night to congratulate him on his victory in Thursday's voting, news agencies reported from Lusaka. "He has conceded defeat and promised to cooperate with us," Chiluba said.

Rebels tried unsuccessfully to overthrow Zambian President Frederick Chiluba on Tuesday, raising fears of political instability in a country considered a bulwark of peace in Southern Africa. The putsch was thwarted about five hours after it was announced on state radio by the leader of a previously unknown military group calling itself the National Redemption Council.

Frederick Chiluba, a trade union leader who overwhelmingly defeated President Kenneth D. Kaunda to win Zambia's first multi-party elections in nearly a quarter-century, was sworn in Saturday as president. "The stream of democracy, dammed up for 27 years, is finally free to run its course as a mighty African river," Chiluba, 46, said at his inauguration.

In a political thunderbolt, Zambians voting in their first multi-party democratic election in 23 years unseated President Kenneth D. Kaunda, the country's only leader through its 27 years of independence. His opponent, Frederick Chiluba, said at a news conference in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, that Kaunda phoned him Friday night to congratulate him on his victory in Thursday's voting, news agencies reported from Lusaka. "He has conceded defeat and promised to cooperate with us," Chiluba said.

The people of Zambia, their economy in a shambles, go to the polls Thursday for the country's first multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections in 17 years. And diplomats say President Kenneth D. Kaunda's ruling party could have its 27-year hold on power ended by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, a coalition of labor, business, farming and religious leaders led by trade unionist Frederick Chiluba. The campaign has been intense and bitter, and former U.S.

President Kenneth D. Kaunda approved new laws legalizing opposition parties, ending 17 years of one-party rule. In signing constitutional amendments allowing for a return to multi-party democracy, Kaunda promised elections before September, 1991.

Zambian President Kenneth D. Kaunda, in a surprise offer of reconciliation to his political foes, announced Wednesday the release of all political prisoners and agreed to postpone a referendum on multi-party rule. "I am sending a strong message of love to those who are insulting me and my colleagues to stop doing that," he said. The referendum previously set for Oct. 17 this year would be put off until Aug. 13, 1991, he told a news conference.

At least 23 people have been killed in three days of food rioting that has spread from Lusaka, the capital, to smaller cities. President Kenneth D. Kaunda vowed to crack down on rioters protesting increased food prices. The unrest began after the government more than doubled the price of cornmeal, Zambia's staple food, as part of an economic reform program.

A series of recent authoritarian actions by the government of Zambian President Frederick Chiluba is sending disturbing signals that the country, traditionally a bulwark of stability in southern Africa, may be returning to a system of repressive autocracy. The recent jailing without charge of former President Kenneth D.

A Zambian army lieutenant was captured by soldiers after he announced on state radio today that President Kenneth D. Kaunda had been toppled in a coup following five days of anti-government violence. The announcer, who identified himself in repeated broadcasts as Lt. Mwamba Luchembe of the Signals Corps, was escorted from Radio Zambia's studio on the outskirts of the capital about 90 minutes later.

Thousands of people watched quietly Thursday as President Kenneth D. Kaunda toured central Lusaka after food riots that killed at least 24 people, but elsewhere in the Zambian capital students held a noisy demonstration calling on him to resign. Kaunda, facing the worst crisis of his 26-year rule, inspected the central shopping district where goods worth thousands of dollars were looted in three days of rioting. "Zambia will not allow itself to be ruled by thuggery," the 66-year-old leader said.