Connect with us

Metro

Zambia’s political challenges, ensuring free speech, addressing barriers to participation

Published

on

Active political participation is vital for ensuring leaders are accountable and promoting transparency.

In Zambia, while several political parties participate in general, by-elections, and ward elections to test their popularity, financial constraints often hinder smaller parties from making significant impacts.

Prior to the 1991 general elections, Zambia was under a one-party state led by the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and its leader, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, who endorsed socialism over democracy.

The introduction of multiparty politics in 1991 saw the emergence of various political parties.

However, many of these parties often align with larger parties during elections due to financial pressures.

Major parties like the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) frequently seek financial support from conglomerates, promising kickbacks in exchange for government formation.

This has led to calls for legislation on political party financing to ensure transparency about the sources of funding for all parties, though such proposals have faced resistance.

Parties like the former ruling PF, UNIP, and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) have struggled with internal disputes, often failing to field candidates in various elections.

Renowned academician Sishuwa Sishuwa highlighted that former ruling parties typically perform poorly after losing power. UNIP, which ruled for 27 years, collapsed after its defeat in 1991, while MMD, which governed for 20 years, similarly faltered after losing power in 2011.

When the PF went into opposition following the 2021 elections, many, including President Hakainde Hichilema, anticipated its decline.

However, Sishuwa noted that despite predictions of its demise, the PF remained resilient, winning support in subsequent polls.

Political participation was crucial for representing diverse perspectives and fostering a vibrant public discourse.

Engaged citizens can advocate for policies and laws that support free speech and democracy.

Elizabeth Carlson of Cambridge University Press points out that while ethnic identity often drives electoral participation in Africa, other factors such as co-locality, co-gender, and co-partisanship also play significant roles.

The focus should shift from ethnic influence alone to a broader understanding of electoral dynamics.

Encouraging political engagement promotes critical thinking and debate, essential for a healthy democracy and free speech.

The 2010 Afrobarometer survey revealed high support for democratic governance in Zambia since 1999, though satisfaction with how democracy functions has been below 50 percent from 2005 to 2009.

Many Zambians are dissatisfied with a political environment where ruling parties remain in power for extended periods, even with freedoms to express opinions and vote.

Before his 2021 election, President Hichilema faced obstacles such as blocked campaign events and military deployment following clashes and election-related violence.

Such challenges underscore the need for increased political participation and a more inclusive environment for free speech to thrive.

This story is sponsored by Project Aliyense.

Metro

Zambia: APP leader lampoons PF over pledge to reverse forfeited properties

Published

on

Leader of one of Zambia’s opposition parties, Advocates for People’s Prosperity (APP), Mwenye Musenge, has criticised the Patriotic Front (PF) over its promise to reverse forfeited properties if the party won the 2026 presidential election.

Musenge, who was reacting to a statement credited to the PF Member of Parliament (MP) for Lukashya Province, George Chisanga, described the PF’s promise as a betrayal, saying the declaration had exposed the party’s disregard for accountability and justice.

The APP leader, who spoke to Zambia Monitor in a telephone interview from Kitwe, expressed shock that Chisanga, a former Law Association of Zambia president, would endorse what he termed a “regressive agenda,” accusing the PF of prioritising the protection of corrupt individuals over the welfare of citizens.

“This declaration reveals the PF’s true intentions, returning to power not to serve Zambians, but to shield their corrupt network and restore stolen assets,” Musenge said.

He alleged that former President Edgar Lungu’s consistent calls to protect his family, who he claimed cannot explain their amassed wealth, further demonstrate the party’s self-serving mission.

Musenge further described the PF as “a political carcass animated by greed and nostalgia for its days of unchecked looting,” and accused its leaders of leaving Zambia impoverished while enriching themselves.

“Allowing them near power again would be akin to handing a butcher’s knife to a thief already drenched in the blood of the nation’s resources.

“The PF represents everything wrong with Zambian politics—a relic of the past clinging to survival through recycled lies and corrupt agendas,” he added.

Musenge went on to call for the party to be permanently eradicated, saying it had no vision, morality, or credibility to serve Zambians.

Continue Reading

Metro

Nigerian Senate confirms influx of terrorists from Mali, Burkina Faso into the country 

Published

on

The Nigerian Senate has raised the alarm over the influx of terrorists from Mali and Burkina Faso who operate in the name of Lakurawa, into Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger States in the northern parts of the country.

The Upper Chamber, which raised the alarm during plenary on Wednesday, called on the military to set up early warning mechanisms to forestall further incursions by terrorist groups as well as maintain presence and vigilance in the affected communities to halt the activities of the terror group from spreading further across the region.

The resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion titled, “Urgent need for the federal government to take stringent measures to stop the infiltration of a group of violent terrorists, known as Lakurawa, from entrenching themselves in some northwest states of Sokoto and Kebbi,” and was sponsored by the senator representing Kebbi North, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, and co- sponsored by Senators Adamu Aliero, from Kebbi Central, and Garba Musa Maidoki, representing Kebbi South.

While presenting the motion, Senator Abdullahi said:

“The Senate is aware that a group of terrorists from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, known as Lakurawa, has infiltrated the country through the Nigeria-Niger border, at Illela, Tangaza and Silame Local Government Areas of Sokoto and are from there, attacking communities in Augie and Arewa LGAs in Kebbi State.

“Recall that this violent gang of terrorists had raided and dispossessed these communities, prior to the large-scale invasion of Mera, a village in Augie Local Government, on November 8, 2024, killing more than 20 people and fleeing with their livestock, amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.

“Senate is aware that Kebbi State government promptly responded by sending a delegation with relief materials to the affected villages and assistance to the families of the deceased.

“Aware that Senator Yahaya A. Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi North Central) and Senator Garba Musa Maidoki (Kebbi South), along with some members of the House of Representatives from Kebbi State, have been to those areas, to commiserate with victims of the attacks on behalf of the National Assembly.

“Aware that if timely, adequate and decisive measures are not taken, this group can spread its reign of terror to other northern parts of the country and beyond.

“Notes the prompt response of the ministry of defence and the armed forces who despatched a well-armed military response squad that was able to dislodge the terrorists and secured the release of herds of cattle and other livestock stolen by the terrorists. These foreigners have invaded the country.

“We need to nip the situation in the bud, they have international connections, heavily armed with very dangerous weapons, the federal government should take the matter very seriously.

‘These terrorists are well armed with highly sophisticated weapons, this is a very serious matter on national security, they control the whole of Northern Mali and now attacking Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Niger, and others. The time to act is now, we have to take action on how to tame terrorism.”

He said the Senate should revisit past resolutions on terrorism and send them to the Presidency for immediate action.

”I want us to recall what happened in the 8th and 9th Senates. We discussed extensively how we can stem the tide of banditry and terrorism. We made far-reaching recommendations, and we asked the Executive arm of government to implement those resolutions.

“It is still relevant for us to insist that those resolutions should be implemented, if we do so, it will reduce the incidences of banditry and insurgency in the country. We can reduce it to the barest minimum.”

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Tech8 hours ago

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity....

Metro8 hours ago

Zambia: APP leader lampoons PF over pledge to reverse forfeited properties

Leader of one of Zambia’s opposition parties, Advocates for People’s Prosperity (APP), Mwenye Musenge, has criticised the Patriotic Front (PF)...

Sports9 hours ago

Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering...

Culture9 hours ago

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at...

Musings From Abroad13 hours ago

Finnish court imprisons Nigeria’s Simon Ekpa for aiding terrorism

  Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian separatist leader based abroad, has been placed under detention by the Päijät Häme District Court...

Metro15 hours ago

Nigerian Senate confirms influx of terrorists from Mali, Burkina Faso into the country 

The Nigerian Senate has raised the alarm over the influx of terrorists from Mali and Burkina Faso who operate in...

Tech1 day ago

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from...

Culture1 day ago

Miss SA opens up on why she withdrew from Miss Universe pageant

Reigning Miss South Africa 2024, Mia le Roux, has opened up on the reasons behind her withdrawal from the Miss...

Sports1 day ago

SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with...

Metro1 day ago

Wanted Zambian MP who escaped from prison custody captured in Harare

A fugitive Zambian Member of Parliament (MP), Emmanuel Banda, who escaped from custody at the Chipata Prison in Eastern Province...

Trending