Today when we talk of the people who stood up for the struggle of Zambla’s independence from the British we usually talk mainly male characters like Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Mainza Chona, Kenneth Kaunda etc and yet there is one woman who also sacrificed just as much.
She is an individual who sacrificed and paid a big role in mapping out the road of freedom for Zambia and is now almost forgotten or completely unknown by many in the young generation.
She is Princess Nakatindi Nganga or just Princess Nakatindi in short. Princess Nakatindi was from the Lozi royal family. Her father was the Litunga Yeta III who reigned on the Lozi throne from 1916 to 1945. 
It should be taken note that during the “hot” periods during the struggle a lot of freedom fighters would take refuge in western province which had a more conducive environment since the British government and the Lozi kingship of the time hard a cordial relationship.
This allowed a good number of Lozi royals including Princess Nakatindi to play a part in the Zambian freedom struggle openly.
It was though a divisive issue between those who wanted a unitary state of Zambia like the princess and others who favoured complete secession and form a free Kingdom of Barotseland like Godwin Mbikusita a very powerful Lozi royal who was also to become a Litunga.
Princess Nakatindi was not for secession and fought hard for a one united Zambia. She was joined in this fight by others from western province like the Wina brothers Arthur and Sikota, Munukayumbwa Sipalo, Nalumino Mundia and others.
This group joined forces with ZANC forces who had just left Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula’s ANC in 1958. Whilst this group fought through a path for unitary state the secessionist camp did not lose steam as well.
The pro unitary state was instrumental in the period of 1958-1959 in hiding politicians who were under threat of arrest by giving them refuge.
On many occasions K.K. would seek help and Princess Nakatindi was very instrumental in providing the help at the risk of her own reputation as Kaunda at a certain time ended up staying at her house even when her husband, Mr Nganga was out of town leading to false rumours
This help, helped in the organization, growth and running of the party. When the colonialists banned ZANC whilst Kaunda and others were in prison in1959, Mainza Chona formed UNIP and it replaced ZANC.
When Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe was released from prison in Mongu he joined UNIP and the others followed suit.
As Zambia was heading towards independence in 1964 Princess Nakatindi stood under UNIP in the newly created Nalikwanda constituency. She won in unopposed and became Zambia’s female MP in the new national assembly.
Alongside Margret Mbeba and Ester Banda, she was a member of the first group of women to be elected to the legislature. In the first cabinet she was appointed a junior minister, a first for a female.
she held prominent positions in UNIP after independence like member of the UNIP’s Central committee and UNIP’s women league.
Despite all these achievements her way upwards in the Zambia political circle was about to be curtailed and that would send her into oblivion and almost complete obscurity. In 1967 UNIP held its congress in Kabwe to elect new leaders.
The results were shocking for the big guns from western province as they tumbled to nonentities, among them Princess Nakatindi to a little known Maria Nankalongo. Mbikusita Lewanika also tumbled.
It was a shocking defeat but it was later discovered that Northernerss under Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Southerners connived against the mainly Kaunda loyalists from western province.
Rigging was suspected but fear of the powerful influence of the westerners was found to be the main reason and the connivance included sending false negative information to would be voters.
It worked and this was to be the beginning of the end for strong influence from politicians from western province in Zambian politics. The last straw to bring down Princess Nakatindi was in the 1968 general elections when she lost her parliamentary seat to Morgan Simwinji.
Having lost her clout in politics she went to take on traditional roles as a traditional leader under the new Litunga Mbikusita Lewanika as a chief. She also joined the House of Chief and she was also appointed governor of Sesheke. She died in 1972.
The Nakatindi Hall at Lusaka's Civic centre was named after her. She was the mother of the late Princess Nakatindi Wina, wife of politician Sikota Wina.
Princess Nakatindi though almost forgotten has made an indelible mark in the struggle for Zambia’s independence. She used her position in the royal family to sacrifice for the UNIP freedom fighters and help bring a just political climate for Zambia’s independence.
Source: Shalala Oliver Sepiso, 27 May 2020, Facebook, Mwebantu, YouTube: Women Museum Zambia
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