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12 Things You Should Know About The Zambian Election

12 Things You Should Know About The Zambian Election

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Zambia, a landlocked nation with a population of 13.8 million people, is one of Africa’s most politically stable democracies, since attaining independence from Britain in 1964.

The Southern Africa nation is set to hold a presidential and general elections on August 11, 2016. The election is shaping up to be one of the most controversial and has raised questions from the international community about the credibility of the process.

Here are 12 things to know about the upcoming Zambia election.

Sources; BBC, The Post, Zambia Daily Mail, Financial Mail, mwebantu, The New York Times, African Arguments

Edgar Lungu vs Hakainde Hichilema (Image: blogs.lse.ac.uk)
Edgar Lungu vs Hakainde Hichilema (Image: blogs.lse.ac.uk)

Familiar foes

The August polls will pit two familiar foes for the second time running. Incumbent Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) edged out Hakainde Hichilema of United Party for National Development (UPND) in a closely contested presidential poll in January 2015. He defeated him by 28,000 votes. They are the main contestants in the coming presidential elections.

Fomer Zambia President the late Michael Sata (Image: theweeklyworld.com)
Fomer Zambia President the late Michael Sata (Image: theweeklyworld.com)

Breaking tradition

Zambia holds elections after every five years. Lungu was elected in January 2015 after the death of Michael Sata in October 2014. It was a special election organized within 90 days as stipulated by law. Lungu is facing a tough battle from Hichilema after about 19 months in power.

Thinkstock
Thinkstock

Looming controversy

Zambia faces a stern test to its political reputation due to a host of events in the run-up to the August polls. Perceived allies to President Edgar Lungu have been appointed as judges to the Constitutional Court. The security agencies have already showed signs that they might be used to intimidate opposition leaders and voters, as it happened in Uganda in Feb. 2016.

Image: constitutionnet.org
Image: constitutionnet.org

Lungu’s questionable tactics

The appointment of the president’s six allies to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) raised fears that the government is determined to stay in power by any means necessary. The ConCourt has final say on all election disputes in Zambia and Lungu might use it to make decisions that will keep him in power in case of a dispute in the results. None of the six meet the minimum requirements to serve in ConCourt.

Lungu swears in constitution court judges. (Image: qfmzambia.com)
Lungu swears in constitution court judges. (Image: qfmzambia.com)

Relatives and friends in ConCourt

Among the six questionable appointees to the ConCourt, two were classmates to Lungu at law school in 1970s. A third is Lungu’s relative who controversially upheld Lungu’s presidential nomination in his Patriotic Front (PF) Party in 2014, en-route to becoming Zambia’s president in 2015.

A Zambian voter (Image: voanews.com)
A Zambian voter (Image: voanews.com)

Voter registration malpractices

In 2015, reports emerged that the ruling party, Patriotic Front was registering thousands of foreigners as voters. This happened in its strongholds of Eastern and Luapula provinces. The two border Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo respectively. In May 2016, several Malawians were photographed in possession of Zambian identity and voters’ cards.

Zambian journalist attacked (Image: onmedia.dw-akademie.com)
Zambian journalist attacked (Image: onmedia.dw-akademie.com)

Attacks on journalists

Across many African nations, journalists are battered by police and supporters whenever they expose malpractices linked to the incumbent leadership. In December 2015, Peter Sukwa, an investigative journalist and Kelvin Phiri were assaulted by Patriotic Front cadres. The incident happened after the two were caught investigating the registration of Malawians by the ruling party. They were left with fractured ribs and nearly got burnt by the rowdy cadres.

ZambiaReports.com
ZambiaReports.com

Military intimidation

In May 2016, General Eric Chimense, the Zambia Air Force commander issued a stern warning against abuse of the nation’s airspace. This was directed at the opposition that has been labelled careless, unpatriotic, hooligans and perpetrating indiscipline. This is similar to the flimsy reasons that security forces in other nations such as Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo have used to intimidate the opposition and ensure the incumbent government stays in power.

Image: voanews.com
Image: voanews.com

Braille Ballot papers

A braille tactile folder has been developed for the visually impaired and blind Zambians to enable them cast their votes. It is also known as the ballot paper jacket. This is a first in the nation’s elections history.

President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu of Zambia (Image: znbc.co.zm)

Shortest serving president

Edgar Lungu has been in power for one year and about 172 days. In case he loses in the coming polls, he will have been the shortest serving-elected president of the Southern Africa nation.

Zambian Presidents Kenneth David Kaunda, Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, Rupiah (Image: michaelchishala.wordpress.com)
Zambian Presidents Kenneth David Kaunda, Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, Rupiah (Image: michaelchishala.wordpress.com)

Fate conspires against top seat

Two of Zambia’s elected presidents have died in office. Levy Mwanawasa was sworn into office on January 2, 2002. Six years later while serving his final term, he died of stroke on August 19, 2008. Michael Sata, the fifth president led the nation from September 23, 2011. He died on October 28, 2014 while undergoing treatment in the United Kingdom. Another former president, Fredrick Chiluba died of chronic heart problems in June 2011.

Image: daily-mail.co.zm
Image: daily-mail.co.zm

Tender questionably awarded

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) awarded the tender to print ballot papers to Al Ghurairi printing and Publishing, a Dubai-based firm. Since 2006, ballot papers for general elections have been printed in neighboring South Africa. The sudden change raised questions, coupled by the Dubai-based firm’s quotation of $3.6 million, which was more than double the amount tendered by Ren-Form CC, a South African company. Ren-Form CC contested the decision which was later re-awarded to the Dubai-based firm under controversial circumstances after the ruling party intervened. This raised concerns that the move might be part of a plan to rig the poll in favor of Lungu and his party.