by Patson Phiri – SANF 06 No 80
Political campaigns, banners and rallies have stolen the limelight in Zambia as the southern African country heads towards the 28 September presidential and parliamentary elections.
Media coverage has been focused on the election campaigns that have so far been described as free and fair by international election observers.
The elections are closely contested. Front-runners are incumbent president, Levy Mwanawasa; Patriotic Front president, Michael Sata; and Hakainde Hichilema, a wealthy businessman.
Peace, security and the economy are the major campaign issues for all the political parties.
Mwanawasa remains confident that he will win the elections on the back of his economic recovery programme and the fight against corruption that has won him the international support.
During a public rally on 24 September, Mwanawasa urged Zambians to judge him by the achievements his government has made since he assumed power in 2001.
Zambia’s economic performance has improved in the past few years, with inflation pegged at eight percent in August. Inflation first hit single-digit levels in April when it dropped to 9.4 percent.
Zambia’s inflation has revolved around 17-230 percent since the early 1990s despite the privatisation drive of that period supported by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The privatisation – mainly of the copper mines – relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth.
Copper output has increased steadily since 2004, due to higher prices and the opening of new mines in the country’s North-Western province.
Mwanawasa has insisted on improved agriculture, prudent expenditure of public resources and the fight against corruption to jump-start the economy. Previous economic failures have been blamed mainly on corruption and anti-agriculture investment policies.
A tighter monetary policy was launched and helped to cut inflation and improved the economic performance.
Poverty levels have declined from 80 percent in 2001 to about 65 percent, according to the 2005 figures compiled by the Central Statistics Office.
“I do realise that 65 percent is still too high. When I look into the eyes of children I can see anguish and disillusionment,” Mwanawasa conceded at the campaign rally, promising to do more to ease the plight of Zambians if re-elected.
Opposition leaders and the civil society have, however, challenged Mwanawasa to prove how his economic reforms have impacted on the livelihood of Zambians.
The opposition insists that the impressive economic data was just a smokescreen on the real poverty levels on the ground.
Sata also held one of his final rallies in Lusaka last weekend during which he promised to deliver development within 90 days of coming into office.
“We shall do the things in 90 days so that we can show the people saying it cannot be done because we believe in meeting the people’s demands,” said Sata.
He also promised to cut taxes, especially on workers’ salaries, as a way of improving the standard of living of Zambians.
Hichilema has pledged to build a university in every district of Zambia and provide free agricultural inputs to farmers to boost development. Zambia has 78 districts.
The Council of Churches in Zambia – an umbrella body of the Churches in the country –held national prayers on 24 September at which it called for divine intervention in ensuring peace and tolerance.
The theme for the prayer day was “God in Grace Show Us the Leaders You Have Chosen for Our Country”.
The prayer session was led by renowned Lusaka reverend, Moses Mwale, and was attended by political party representatives.
