RAISED HOPES, SHATTERED DREAMS: Democracy, the Oppressed, and the Church in Africa (The Case of Zambia)

Raised Hopes, Shattered Dreams integrates political, economic and theological analysis in addressing the economic and political developments in Zambia from 1964 to 2014, and the Church s response to them. Aside from being one of the most stable nations in Africa, Zambia is among Africa's poorest nations with the majority living on less than one dollar a day. Although attempts have been made to address poverty, Zambia experiences the cycle of raised hopes, and shattered dreams. Whereas the United National Independence Party (UNIP) government raised hopes of economic prosperity and liberty, those aspirations were shattered within 5 years of self-rule. In 1991, the return to multi-party democracy raised hopes similar to those of 1964. But these hopes were shattered. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) administration became more corrupt and repressive than the UNIP government. In 2011, the Patriotic Front wrestled power from the MMD and raised hopes of economic advancement and liberty. Within two years, those hopes were shattered. Acknowledging the Church s role in politics, the book provides the theological rationale for the Church's involvement in politics, and suggests practical ways the Church can aid the democratic process, and ensure national socio-political and economic wellbeing.