VJ happy with Zambia’s democratic benchmarks

VJ happy with Zambia’s democratic benchmarks
By By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 16 Jan. 2011, 04:01 CAT

ZAMBIA has set democratic benchmarks higher than many countries worldwide, says Vernon Mwaanga. According to Mwaanga, Zambia has an Electoral Code of Conduct that was extensively debated and agreed by all stakeholders.

He stated that since 1991, the Zambian government and the Electoral Commission of Zambia had been working on improvements to the electoral process, adopting and adapting best practices from both the older and new democracies in the world.

“Where problems are observed, these will be addressed and corrected to ensure that our record of holding free, fair, transparent, credible and democratic elections is upheld,” stated Mwaanga, who is parliamentary chief whip, in a statement. “Our citizens must continue to have confidence in the electoral process of their country. Improvements to the electoral process will continue and must be regarded as work in progress.”

He stated that leaders of political parties and NGOs should not alarm Zambians about benchmarks which had already been set and which took into account the ingredients which exist in every democratic country like Zambia.

“Issues of electoral corruption are covered in our electoral laws. This government under the able leadership of President Rupiah Banda has put a number of measures to fight poverty and improve the quality of life for all our people,” Mwaanga said. “These measures will continue bearing fruits.”
Mwaanga, one of the founder members of the MMD, said the ruling party was the mother and father of the democratic dispensation Zambians were enjoying today.

He said he got puzzled when he heard some people claim that democracy had declined in Zambia.
“Where do these people live and where were they in 1990 when the people of Zambia under the leadership of the MMD rose to demand democracy? Let us not forget the troubled road we have travelled to get where we are today,” Mwaanga said.

He said Zambians had invested in building institutions of good governance, democracy and human rights which were the envy of many countries globally.

He urged Zambians not allow the prophets of doom and the enemies of Zambia’s democracy to undermine their path.

“We know that more needs to be done. We also know that there are still many challenges to be overcome along this journey but no one should doubt our commitment and determination to continue working with all those of our people who mean well to take our country forward,” Mwaanga said. “We are determined to continue our economic programmes and address issues of poverty and many others, as the country continues to move forward in this 21st century.”

He said development and poverty eradication were not a one-day wonder but a process which would take time and resources.

“We are irrevocably committed to continue making Zambia a better place for all by growing the economy and increasing our resource base,” said Mwaanga.