Maravi

Zambia’s democracy is under siege - AVAP

Zambia’s democracy is under siege - AVAP
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Mon 08 Nov. 2010, 04:00 CAT

ZAMBIA’S democracy is under siege due to a hostile political environment prevailing in the country, AVAP executive director Bonnie Tembo has warned. And AVAP has observed that there are a lot of political gaps which do not support the growth of Zambia’s young democracy as politicians have abandoned politics of service and development, and have been carried away by politics of self-praise.

Addressing a press conference in Livingstone yesterday at the Livingstone Museum, Tembo said politicians should not be left to vandalise and deform Zambia’s hard-won democracy.

“Our politicians have abandoned politics of service and development and have been carried away with politics of self-praise but no tangible development. We are gathered here to discuss the state of democracy and 2011 elections and as AVAP, we simply give you a big picture on the subject matter. Our democracy in Zambia is under siege due to a hostile political environment prevailing in the country,” he said.

Tembo said a silent revolution was developing.

“Therefore we have change versus change. The country is divided according to these calls…you are either for change of regime or no change. As we get closer to 2011 elections, your true colours will be exposed. Now that the 2011 elections fever is gripping the country, politicians are busy dreaming new promises and lies to deceive the electorate for their votes,” Tembo said.

He wondered how Zambia’s democracy could grow with hunger, poverty, unemployment and corruption.

“How do we push our democracy towards growth with tribal politics, regional politics?” he asked.

Tembo said Zambia’s democracy was sinking, adding that the need to rescue it was critical.

He said this was a challenge to all Zambians.

“Politicians should not be left to vandalise and deform our hard-won democracy. As Zambians, regardless of political affiliation, our active participation in the re-building of our democracy must be encouraged,” Tembo said.

He said time to lay a strong foundation for the 2011 elections was now but noted that there was still a serious concern regarding electoral preparedness in the country.

“Do we have a constitution and electoral Act that can provide a basis for free, fair and credible elections? Do we see political parties holding democratic and inclusive party conventions ahead of 2011 elections? Why do we have internal political instability in almost all political parties?” he asked.

“Is Government Printers ready to locally print ballot papers and other elections materials? Is there political will to put an end to electoral corruption in the electoral process? Why the mushrooming and fragmentation of opposition political parties? What must be done to ensure that the public resources are not abused for electoral campaigns?”

Tembo said the 2011 tripartite elections were unprecedented and could pose a challenge to Zambia’s young democracy.

“Our electoral process will be on trial next year. We are alive to the fact that the only elections accepted locally and internationally were the 1991 first-ever multi-party elections. The subsequent elections were closer to selections as the outcomes were disputed. The polls of 1996, 2001 and 2006 were characterised with massive electoral corruption, manipulations and rigging,” he said.

“We as AVAP recommend that government speeds up the process of amending the 1996 Constitution ahead of the 2011 elections.”

He also requested the government to pass legislation that would allow Zambians living abroad to vote in the presidential elections.

Tembo noted that politics of poverty had spread to both the voters and job-seeking politicians.

“…Our young democracy is anchored on a weak political system to the extent that most political parties do exist on paper only and have no capacity to participate in the electoral process. How can our democracy survive with political parties that are undemocratic, intolerant, oppressive and lost in the political wilderness? How can we have a strong democracy without understanding dialogue and consensus among political players?” asked Tembo.

“We have observed that there are a lot of political gaps which do not support the growth of Zambia’s young democracy.”

And UNIP Livingstone vice-chairperson Luther Payton said former president Frederick Chiluba changed the Zambia Police Force into a service to service the plunder of the economy.

“There is no way we will get Chiluba on his knees to apologise because he changed the Police Force into a service because he knew very well that he was going to plunder the economy and he needed a police service and not a police force,” said Payton.

Labels: AVAP, BONNIE TEMBO

posted by MrK @ 4:11 PM