Editing Lumpa Church (section)

== The Lumpa Uprising ==
On the 24th of July 1964, a gun battle broke out between UNIP and members of the Lumpa church. State troops were sent in by prime minister Kenneth Kaunda who declared it a state of emergency. Members of Lumpa church fought back and repelled government forces.<ref name=":1" /> A British and African police officer were killed after entering a Lumpa village as a part of patrol. Police retaliations resulted in the deaths of more than 30 Lumpa members. In response, Lumpa followers carried out attacks on neighbouring villages which provoked further retaliation from the local population. As the violence intensified, local police forces were supported by government troops who were instructed to disperse Lumpa communities and resettle inhabitants in their original pre-movement villages. The resistance they encountered led to heavy casualties and violence continued for approximately three weeks. 

On August 11<sup>th</sup>, Alice Lenshina agreed to surrender through a British mediator. She appealed to her followers via radio broadcast and leaflets distributed by government aircraft to cease resistance and to mark their villages with white circles to show their good intentions. In response, Kenneth Kaunda, announced a policy of no retaliation against Lumpa members.<ref name=":0" /> This announcement did not reflect the position of senior UNIP associates, who demanded that the army exterminate all the Lumpa’s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Baker |first=Colin |date=2000 |title=Review of A Time to Mourn: A Personal Account of the Lumpa Church Revolt in Zambia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/220694 |journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=428–429 |doi=10.2307/220694 |jstor=220694 |issn=0361-7882}}</ref> In the rural areas of northeast Zambia the fighting between state troops and the church’s members ceased in October 1964. It is estimated that between 700-1500 people.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Van |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781136134661 |title=Religious Change In Zambia |date=2012-11-12 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-13466-1 |edition=0 |language=en |doi=10.4324/9780203037638}}</ref> <ref name=":3" /> The biggest battle happened in October 1964. At Kasomo village more than 85 people were killed. In total more than 1,000 people were killed and 15,000 members of the Lumpa church fled and took refuge in [[Zaire]].  Fighting lasted for three months and ended with the church being banned and the arrest of Lenshina. In May 1970, Kaunda ordered the destruction of her cathedral in Kasomo village.<ref name=":1" /> 

The Lumpa uprising was a severe setback and an embarrassment to the new UNIP government.<ref name=":2" />