Unity Day in 2024

When is Unity Day?

Unity Day is a public holiday in Zambia, observed on the Tuesday after the first Monday in July. The day always forms part of a two-day break as Unity Day always take place on the day after Heroes' Day.

Unity Day is intended to help foster solidarity between the diverse groups that make up the country.

History of Unity Day

In many countries in Africa, before the colonial period, there was no concept of one nation, with local kingdoms and tribal leaders ruling different areas.  Zambia was no exception, and its population contains over 70 ethnic groups, with nine major groups. The population speaks over 72 local languages/dialects.

When the country gained its independence from Britain in 1964, this brought the differences between these ethnic groups to the fore. While Zambia has enjoyed a stable political environment since independence, it has been affected by instability in neighbouring countries, with some ethnic groups feeling an affinity across ethnic rather than national lines.

To help create a sense of Zambian identity, Unity Day was established by Kenneth Kaunda, the first President of Zambia. It aims at fostering solidarity between the various ethnolinguistic groups and maintaining the spirit of national unity.

The official slogan of Zambian Unity Day is the country's motto "One Zambia, One Nation".

Speeches on Unity Day usually stress that people of varying backgrounds and political beliefs have come together to work for Zambian independence and that spirit of unity must be maintained to ensure Zambia's future prosperity.