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. '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 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 - 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 jobs were reserved for white workers.
As president, one of Kaunda's missions was to empower the black majority. He imposed a 'Zambianisation' policy, which replaced white executives in key industries 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.
However, a 2019 report from a UN human rights committee found that Zambia, like other post-colonial societies, struggled with how to prevent and eliminate the racial and class inequalities left by colonialism. At the height of colonization, white people made up less than 2% of the population. Although many left after independence, there are no specific figures today on the current demographic composition.
Many Zambians believe there are greater disparities between Zambians based not only on race but also wealth. A noted property manager acknowledges that some landlords prefer white tenants, associating them with stability and reliability.
Victoria Phiri Chitungu, a historian, explains that Kaunda's mission to eliminate discrimination may have simply suppressed these issues below the surface, stating, 'The obvious racist signs and acceptance of racism was no longer welcome and people were aware of that.'
Despite calling for a collective reckoning on these issues, many Zambians, like journalist Adrian Scarlett, believe that conditions for honest discussions about race must be established. With increasing awareness and dialogues around inequality, there is hope that Zambia can confront its complicated legacy and foster a more equitable future.
