Racism in Zambia: A Challenge to Pan-African Ideals

Sat Apr 25 2026 05:07:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Despite its historical stance against colonial rule and a commitment to pan-Africanism, Zambia grapples with subtle forms of racism over 60 years post-independence.

Zambia, known for its fight against colonialism and promotion of unity among African nations, is increasingly confronting issues of racism and discrimination more than 60 years after its independence. While the government denies the existence of racism, various personal accounts reveal ongoing subtle discrimination faced by Zambians, particularly in the context of employment and social services. Many are hopeful for open discussions on race to pave the way for change.

Zambia likes to pride itself as being at the forefront of African nationalism and the fight against colonial rule, however several Zambians have told the BBC that racism remains a problem in the country more than 60 years after independence from the UK.

Although it is rarely overt, they say that subtle everyday discrimination can make it feel like they are second-class citizens in their own country. They give accounts of black people being passed over for certain jobs, snubbed at restaurants and disregarded by landlords. But there was also an element of optimism, with some Zambians pleased that conversations about race were slowly becoming more common. Zambia's government denies that racism is a problem in the country.

Alexander Bwalya, a black Zambian who asked us not to use his real name, says he finds it very strange that people can live in an African country and be racist to black people. He recounts visiting a wine bar with his friends in the capital, Lusaka, where they attempted to order relatively expensive bottles of wine. However, the waiters at the bar explained that they were out of stock, he recalls.

And then came a white family who they were being very friendly with. And then they kept on offering them [the bottles that were supposedly out of stock], Bwalya says. When we complained to the manager, we were told: 'If you don't appreciate the service, you're more than welcome to leave.'

A heated argument ensued and during the altercation, the white manager allegedly directed a racial slur towards Bwalya's black friend. Bwalya told the BBC he did not report the matter to the police as he felt it would not be taken seriously.

This is six decades after Kenneth Kaunda - a central figure in the fight against colonialism in Africa - became the country's first president.

Prior to independence in 1964, black Zambians had to carry passes that restricted their movement, schools and hospitals were segregated and skilled, high-paid mining jobs in the copper-rich country were reserved for white workers.

As president, one of Kaunda's missions was to empower the black majority. He imposed a Zambianisation policy, which saw white executives in key industries replaced with black ones, and rallied behind groups fighting for independence and the end of white-minority rule in neighbouring countries. Kaunda's message was clear - black Africans must no longer be subjugated.

In his first press conference after taking office, he said Zambia's task was building a nation founded on respect for all people of all races, all colours and all religions. But in 2019 a report from a UN human rights committee found that like other post-colonial societies, Zambia had struggled with how to prevent and eliminate the racial and class inequalities left by the colonialists. At the height of colonisation, white people made up less than 2% of the population.

While there is no public official data on racial inequality in Zambia, anecdotes and discussions on the topic abound on social media. In January, a Zambia-based worker from employment firm Recruitment Matters posted an opening for a sales and marketing manager, writing in capital letters, THIS ROLE IS CURRENTLY NOT OPEN TO ZAMBIAN NATIONALS; WE ARE LOOKING FOR EXPATS OR FOREIGN RESIDENTS IN ZAMBIA. The advert was widely shared on social media, angering many, who felt it was discriminatory.

Omar Chanshi, a 37-year-old who works in marketing, shared, There are contracts and systems and a lot of opportunities that we just don't have access to as locals. Forget trying to show whether you are the best or most qualified person, you just don't have access. The Recruitment Matters employee apologized following the backlash and deleted their post. Subsequently, the company acknowledged the concern caused.

Many Zambians highlighted the intersection between race and wealth, saying it is often assumed that non-black people have money and are therefore treated better than black Zambians. Numerous Zambians pointed out that in shops, banks, and cafes, it is often black employees giving preferential service to non-black customers.

While some argue that racism exists in Zambia, others feel such perceptions may be influenced by factors such as social status or affluence. Despite differing views, many agree on the importance of fostering open dialogues about these issues to promote unity and societal progress.

Zambia's history as a nation's built on pan-African principles reflects a complicated modern reality where the challenge of racism persists, but so does hope for change.