Clinton urges Zambia to hold free and fair elections

COMMENT - I 'urge' Hillary Clinton to stop the lying, apologize to the people of Zibmabwe, retract the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001, and make payments for the damage done to the country, economy and people of Zimbabwe by her economic sanctions. She co-sponsored ZDERA when she was a Senator, so she has not excuse about not knowing what is in the bill.

Clinton urges Zambia to hold free and fair elections
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 12 June 2011, 07:40 CAT

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged President Rupiah Banda, opposition leaders and all Zambians to hold free, fair, transparent and violence-free elections this year. And President Banda defended Chinese investment in Zambia though he said investors from the Asian economic giant must respect the locals and labour laws.

Speaking during her joint media briefing with President Banda at State House in Lusaka on Friday night, Clinton said political leaders were answerable and accountable to their people and not the other way round.

She said candidates might express passionate differences in campaigns but they must accept the people’s votes and join together for the sake of the country.
She said Zambians had sent a powerful message to Africa and the world when they adopted multiparty democracy in 1991.

“As Zambia approaches another national election, once again you have a chance to set a model for the rest of the world. As the President has just said in our meeting, we discussed the importance of conducting the upcoming national elections peacefully, transparently, fairly and freely in a manner that reflects the will of the Zambian people,” said Clinton.

“The President has invited international and local observers to monitor the elections. And during the campaign he has spoken out repeatedly against election-related violence. That is an important message for all Zambian citizens including the one million young people voting for the first time.”

She said there were many positive signs that Zambians would continue with their adherence to democratic tenets in this year’s elections.

She congratulated Zambia for registering more than 82 per cent of eligible voters in the recent registration.

“Too often the news is dominated by what is wrong with Africa not about what is right. Zambia has shown that it is on the right path to tackle its challenges,” Clinton said.

Clinton, who was in Lusaka for two days to close the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum and due to visit Tanzania and Ethiopia, said Zambia had joined the US and the international community in many principle stances in support of human dignity, freedom of speech and religion and the fight against nuclear proliferation.

She said the US valued Zambia’s role as a regional leader since independence.

“Thanks for supporting calls to stop state-sponsored violence including in Zimbabwe. Thank you for supporting a peaceful transition in Madagascar,” Clinton said.

Clinton raised a red card against China’s non adherence to good governance and transparency in its dealings with Africa.

“We are concerned that China’s foreign assistance and investment practices in Africa have not always been consistent with generally accepted international norms of transparency and good governance and that it has not always utilised the talents of African people in pursuing its citizens’ interests,” Clinton said.

“We want to work more closely with China and other countries to make sure that when we engage with Africa we are doing it in a sustainable manner that will benefit the nations and people of Africa. Therefore, we have begun a dialogue with China about its activities in Africa.”

Clinton also said she was not satisfied with the progress in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of the 2015 deadline.

“We have made progress but not enough. At the 2010 UN General Assembly we reviewed the progress that has been made but I am certainly not satisfied. I don’t think anybody should be satisfied,” Clinton said.

“We have made progress in certain statistical areas but have not crossed the threshold on education or healthcare the way we need to, but as we approach 2015 I think a lot of lessons that we tried to analyse in 2010 will need to be applied. The US administration remains very committed.”

And Clinton denied media reports that she was eyeing the World Bank top job.
“I have had no discussions with anyone. I have evidenced no interest to anyone, I do not have any interests and I am not pursuing that position,” Clinton said.

“It is a very important institution and obviously we want to see the World Bank well led. We work closely with the World Bank but I am absolutely dedicated to my service as Secretary of State.”

She said she and her State Department team had a lot of work ahead to implement their government’s vision to improve and grow the US’ relationships around the world including in Africa.

And President Banda said Zambia was receptive to all investors including the Chinese.

However, he said foreign investors must respect Zambians and should know that citizens were sensitive and must be treated well.

He urged Clinton to woo American investors to come and set up their business in Zambia and partner with the locals.

President Banda told Clinton that Zambia would hold free, fair and transparent elections where voters’ wishes would be respected.

“This is a very special year for Zambia. When you say 2011 every Zambian knows what you are about to talk about, being our election year.

I want to assure your Excellency that we are very proud with the track record that since 1964, when we had our independence, to date we have had good and fair and free and transparent elections,” President Banda said.

“Of course, the country has grown, the population has moved from three million plus in 1964 to 13 million now. It is good for the country that we should have opposition parties.

I just wish to assure you that these elections will be held within the next few months and that they will be transparent and that we will work with all our collaborating partners including the United States to ensure that that these elections are free, fair and transparent and held in a peaceful atmosphere.”

President Banda described the bloody by-elections in Mufumbwe Constituency where three people died, others injured, while one lost his eye as “a bit of violence”.

“We do need peaceful elections. We are going to continue working with you and all other countries to ensure peace on our continent,” said President Banda.