THE UNVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

INSTITUTE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION

NAME :Maureen Chinyata

COMPUTER NUMBER : 16058266

COURSE :Bed (Primary)

COURSE CODE :DPE 3050

LECTURE : Dr. MAMBWE

TASK :Assignment 2

DUE DATE :12TH JULY, 2019

QUESTION

In a multi-ethnic country like Zambia, unity in diversity is key to social economic

emancipation. Discuss how ‘unity in diversity’ can help promote the social, economic, and
political fortunes of a country like Zambia.

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Since the attainment of independence in 1964, Zambia has been tackling with how to ensure
unity in diversity among its various regional, political, religious and ethno-linguistic groups.
Successive governments have strategized different mechanisms aimed at promoting national
integration through the One Zambia One Nation Motto. This essay therefore seeks to discuss
how unity in diversity can help promote the social, economic, and political fortunes for a
country.

Unity in Diversity is a concept that is used by many countries to mean bringing people from
various and different ideologies and beliefs to one circle and system that aims at creating peace,
building and developing the nation. Shoghoi (1938) looked at Unity of Diversity as a way by
which political institutions and government as a whole focuses on the existence of unity even
after lots of differences of cultural, social, physical, linguistic, religious, political, ideological,
psychological aimed at promoting national unity, peace and development.

Uniting people from diverse cultures is a founding principle of many nation states including
Zambia. Historically, when Zambia got independence, the president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and
other started unity of diversity through the motto One Zambia One Nation. The creation of unity
among different people with differences in spheres of life is to foster a national identity that
would sustain a “sustainable development community” in which citizens remain connected by
shared history and values. Anderson (1983) postulated that this one though ideology makes a
country strong and prosperous as people aim to work together for their good.

Unity in diversity in Zambia can bring fortunes in the economic sector in so many ways. To
begin with, people working together by barring their difference behind helps them gather ideas
and means of development the country by formulating alternative policies and programs aimed at
fostering the economic growth of the economy.

Unity in diversity among Zambia’s would mean encouraging and promoting enterprise and
productivity, and create employment, husbanding the resources of the country and, in particular,
handling the finances of the nation with honesty, competence and prudence. Unity in diversity in
Zambia will help increase revenues in through ethno and cultural tourism attraction in which
people of diverse cultures, traditions, cuisines, religions and clothing attract more visitors and
tourists from all across the world (Minister of Culture and Tourism, 2002).

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Moreover, unity of diversity also makes the country economical viable in agriculture production.
For example, people of southern, central and Eastern provinces are well known as food basket
providers of the country, hence this integration of other people will help the less active
agricultural areas also become food baskets as well as produce various crops on the market. This
would increase the Gross Domestic Product of the country as more food is produced and sold on
the market and provide people with income and revenues for paying services etc.

A country that has created a circle of unity builds an empire where people with different skills
brings in different ways of thinking and innovative ideas that increase the knowledge in
infrastructure development, science and technology. India and china for example has made
progress in science and technology such as producing phones, batteries and medicine. Unity in
diversity creates opportunities for openness of trade, investment policies, and the quality of
education. These have further attracted foreign investors and improve on foreign investment. For
example, if Zambia maintains peace reputation, many investors will come in the country; this
would also mean more creation of jobs thereby increases the GDP per capita (EU, 2005).

Unity in diversity also contributes to local economic development through art, culture and
heritage. This helps local people raise revenue for their living as well as create jobs for the
youths and underprivileged. Culture and heritage is very important as it acts as a national asset
and a cornerstone of national identity. Unity in diversity also helps in accountability of resources
and makes sure that resources are shared equality. This gives an importunity for people to be
empowered which means investment in people, in jobs, health, , education and social protection.

Empowerment, +GDP capital, job creation, education, health,

Unity of diversity Economic development agriculture, tourism, science and technology, policy formulation etc

Figure showing unity in diversity and fortunes, 2019

Unity in diversity is an instrument contribute to a countries’ economic prowess measure of

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (Naquib & Smucker, 2009). This unity creates a social and
political stability which is often regarded as a pre-requisite for an inflow of FDI and plays a role
among other factors such as labor wages and tax rates in affecting investors’ confidence
(www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2017/12/31/importance-of-national-unity-and-the-role-of-
moderation).

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In 2010, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development published a report about
creative business areas such as cultural heritage, music, arts, architecture and marketing. The
report shows that these are achieved through unity among different cultures.

Unity in diversity plays a crucial role for the country’s political development as the country
which is integrated within will always prosper and progress on the path of growth and
development. Unity in diversity protects equal human rights for all and makes citizens respect
the rules and laws of the country by ensuring accountability of looking at other with a sense of
human and showing a spirit of belong in society (European Union, 2005a).

Bazzi et al (2018) said, Unity in diversity helps promote political peace during elections, thereby
having free and fair elections. Not only had that but also grants people an opportunity to choose
the right leader of their choice without considering the ethnicity, religious affiliation and or
colour. This however makes people have the right to participation in democratic process.

Unity in diversity increases the voice of persons or groups that are vulnerable and have been
marginalized in the society. Moreover, unity in diversity creates a platform and opportunities for
their political participation, political dialogue and political anticipation. The uniting of churches
such as the Council Health Association of Zambia, plays an important role in the political
development of the country calls on the citizens to participate in the political process to help
create just social structures where women are encouraged to participate and educate citizens on
political education. It further promotes the encouragement and promotion of equal opportunity
for full participation of women and men in all aspects of political life (Pobee, 1991).

Unity in diversity creates make political parties, church mother bodies and various organizations
speak on behalf of the voiceless by championing freedom, integrity and fair play in national
politics (Pobee, 1991:59). Unity among political parties helps to strengthen democracy as they
become representatives of people who actually put forward demands or wishes of people to the
government. Moono (2007) postulated that unity in diversity will help cut off corruption among
political leaders and also help utilization and distribution of resources equally without tribal
boundaries.

With regards to social development, unity in diversity helps bring about peace in the country. It
brings the theme of working together, sharing and loving one another. This unity of coming

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together provides a platform of learning from one another. In addition, unity in diversity promote
social development as it gives rise the habit of national integration among people of the country
even after being diverse in various ways as well as giving value to the rich heritages of country
as well as strengthens and enriches the cultural heritage.

Egharevba and Aghedo (2016) postulated that, unity in diversity promotes social development by
solving social problems in the society which includes child labour, diseases, armed robbery,
prostitution, ransom kidnapping, and suicide terrorism among others e.g Boko Haram
kidnapping. Unity in diversity makes the nation; families and society build and grow stronger.

Not only that but also promotes development in cultural heritage where ones culture is preserved,
respected and benefits the community. Unity in diversity promotes social development by
providing internal security in the country. This means that, when people become one, there will
be no wars and conflicts within the country hence reduce on external influence where people
would come from outside as robbers and criminals. Unity in diversity makes citizen have the
symbol of identity which is fundamental for human development. Awosolu (1993) added that it
creates the fundamental building blocks in our personality and in the ties that link us to
communities and nation and makes communication effective even in bad situation and keeps
people away from social problems and help to manage conflicts easily.

Unity in diversity Political Development: Free and fair election, respect for human rights, women and
participation, no political violence, no tribal voting boundaries, reduce corruption, promote
Social Development : Internal security (human, property etc), social order, identity, peace,
democracy, speak for the voiceless, dialogue etc
equal participation, cultural heritage, stronger families, quality social services, knowledge
sharing, equal sharing of resources, etc

Unity in diversity is a concept that gives everyone a strong message that nothing is without unity
and realize that living together with love and harmony provides the real essence of life. Unity in
diversity in Zambia can boost and promote social, economic and political development through
peace and cooperation building, creation of jobs and investment as well as respect for
fundamental human rights, a few to mention. It is therefore the duty of political and civic leaders,
church and citizens to make sure that all difference in all spheres of life are brought together for
the sake of national development and unity.

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 REFERENCE

Anderson, B., (1983) Imagined Communities, Verso: Oxford Publisher Inc.

Awosolu, E.O. (1993). Political development and Social Studies education in Nigeria: problems
and prospects. Nigeria-Journal of Social Studies Review. Vol. 4 (2).
Effendi, Shoghi  (1938), The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, Wilmette, Illinois, New York:
Bahá'í
Publishing Trust.
Eunice Moono (2015) Regional and Ethnic Politics: A Historical Study Of Party Politics In
Zambia, 1948 To 2011. Lusaka: University of Zambia.
European Union (2005) Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe. Luxembourg: Office
for Official Publications for the European Communities
John Egharevba and Iro Aghedo (2016) Promoting Unity in Diversity: The Imperative of
Social Transformation for Managing Boko Haram Uprising in Nigeria. Rome, Italy:
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Pobee, J. (1991). Religion and politics in Ghana. Accra, Ghana: Asempa Publishers.

Samuel Bazzi, Arya Gaduh, Alexander, Rothenberg and Maisy Wong (2018) Unity in
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