by Barbara Lopi
Anxiety is mounting among the Zambian electorate as the date for the presidential and general elections scheduled for next month remains unknown. These will be the second elections since the country returned to plural politics in 1991.
The delay in announcing the election date has created uncertainty, especially among members of opposition political parties and civic organisations who feel President Frederick: Chiluba is holding them in suspense by keeping the election date a secret.
Although it is the president’s prerogative to decide when to announce the date, voters are saying time to disclose the election date is long overdue. “This is a very unfortunate and unfair situation for government to do because we need to know the elections date in good time so that we plan accordingly,” said Alliance for National Reconstruction (ANR) president, Rev Alfred Sayila, recently.
Other thorny issues causing anxiety lie in the new constitution adopted last May, which effectively bars key opposition candidates, former president Kenneth Kaunda of United National Independence Party (UNIP) the country’s largest opposition, and president of Zambia Democratic Congress (ZDC) Dean Mung’omba, from standing.
The constitution disqualifies second generation Zambians and former presidents who ruled the country for two terms, and requires presidential candidates to have resided in the country for 20 years. Kaunda, born of Malawian parents, Ruled Zambia for 27 years before the incumbent Chiluba came into office in 1991, while Mung’omba lived in the United States for over 10 years. Kaunda has repeatedly said in his campaign that no elections will take place if he is not allowed to contest for presidency.
“My election campaign strategy has already been wrapped up for me throughout the country by my political party’s central committee. Make no mistake I am standing as presidential candidate and no authority will move me,” Kaunda told a rally he addressed in the country’s capital, Lusaka, recently.
Late last month, Chiluba met with Kaunda and Mung’omba separately to discuss the political situation in the country. Although reports from the local media indicate that no conclusion was reached, observers say Chiluba “might just give in and allow the duo to contest.” Chiluba and Kaunda were scheduled to meet again on September 10 for further discussions. However, Kaunda turned down the invitation because he prefers an inter-party meeting.
Supporters of both Kaunda and Mung’ omba have threatened to boycott the election if their leaders are not allowed to contest.
Of the country’s 33 political parties, six had by August 30 indicated their wish to contest the forthcoming election. These include National Party (NP) led by Humphrey Mulemba, ANR with Rev Sayila as presidential candidate, Movement for Democratic’ Process (MOP) with Chama Chakomboka, besides the ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), opposition UNIP and ZDC. Political analysts however, argue that besides Kaunda, the other presidential candidates do not have enough political clout to attract the voters, unless they form a coalition.
The question of whether government has funding for the election is another issue causing anxiety. Minister without portfolio, Michael Sata, said last month that government would ensure funds needed for the elections are available in time.
Zambia has been experiencing a decline in the financial aid-flow from the donor community since it’s endorsement of the controversial constitution in May. The donors are demanding a revocation of the clauses banning Kaunda and other presidential aspirants from contesting in the coming elections.
A spokesperson for the United States’ state department. Nicholas Burns, says, “in light of the Zambian government’s action, the United States has reviewed its bilateral and multilateral relationship, including assistance programmes.” The situation has seen two US sponsored-programmes packing up.
Donor aid constitutes the country’s major source of income, accounting for at least 70 percent of its national income. By last July, Britain had withheld half of the US $20m balance of payments support for “violations of good governance”, while Norwegian, Danish and Scandinavian donors froze new aid to Zambia until government “reverse its stand on the controversial clauses in the constitution.”
Financial indicators show that no donor inflow was recorded during the month of June, and financial analysts fear that this will have an adverse effect on the national budget which enjoys twenty-five percent funding from outside donors.
The treason and murder charges slapped on four UNIP supporters who are alleged to have masterminded the Black Mamba, a shadow group that carried out a series of bomb scares and death threats against some government leaders two months ago, remains another subject raising anxiety. UNIP thinks the state “is dragging” the case so that the accused remain behind bars for the election.
Despite all the anxieties, preparations for the elections are in place. Eager to increase the number of women in political decision-making, the national women lobby group has formed a women campaign support fund aimed at financially backing women (regardless of political affiliation) who will contest the coming parliamentary elections.
Other stakeholders in the country are also putting mechanisms in place to ensure the elections are held under a free and fair atmosphere. A Clean Campaign Committee (CCC) chaired by a human right activist Ngande Mwanangiti has also been formed to facilitate a smooth, and fair campaign. The CCC is also producing a four-page, free, weekly publication to ensure all political candidates enjoy adequate press coverage.
Local election monitors, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and Zambia Independent Monitoring Team (ZIMIT) have been recruiting and training election monitors throughout the country. ZIMIT president Alfred Zulu says his organisation had sought transparent ballot boxes from a country within southern Africa that he did not name.
The election monitors, and some civic organisations, have embarked on massive education campaigns to curb voter apathy. Although the voters cards are ready, most of them have not been collected as some voters say they will only collect their cards after the election date is announced. (SARDC)
