Electoral Integrity Under Scrutiny

 

... TI-Z Pushes for Urgent Legislative Action to Regulate Campaign Financing in Zambia

By Francis Maingaila 

Lusaka, Zambia –  (14-01-2025) - Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has called for urgent electoral reforms following a series of observations made during the Kawambwa parliamentary by-election, emphasizing the need for enhanced electoral integrity to prevent malpractice in future elections.

Maurice K. Nyambe, the Executive Director of TI-Z, voiced these concerns during a press conference, highlighting critical issues such as campaign financing, the independence of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), and the need for policies that support the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.

Nyambe stressed the importance of ensuring that future elections adhere strictly to the law, underscoring the lessons that must be drawn from the controversial Kawambwa by-election.

 "We hope that the lessons learned from Kawambwa will help maintain the integrity of the electoral process in the upcoming by-elections," he remarked, specifically referencing the forthcoming elections in Petauke and Pambashe.

TI-Z’s monitoring team observed several irregularities during the Kawambwa by-election that they believe compromised the fairness of the process. 

One of the major concerns was vote buying, with reports indicating that senior government officials from the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) allegedly distributed ZMW 50 and other gifts under the guise of empowering citizens. 

"These actions violate the Electoral Process Act No 35 of 2016, which prohibits offering money or gifts to voters. The level of impunity witnessed was concerning," Nyambe stated.

In addition to vote buying, TI-Z raised alarms over the lack of regulation in campaign financing. 

He pointed out the UPND’s dominance in campaign materials compared to other political parties. 

This raised concerns about the fairness of campaign resources and the potential for unequal political competition.

TI-Z called for the swift enactment of laws regulating political party and campaign financing. 

"In the absence of substantive laws, campaign financing remains largely unregulated. We urge the government to expedite the enactment of these laws," Nyambe said.

Nyambe also questioned the impartiality of the election process, particularly the role of district electoral officers, who were often also serving as Town Clerks and Council Secretaries. 

He noted that this dual role could undermine the credibility of the ECZ. TI-Z recommended the appointment of independent district officials to ensure the ECZ’s integrity.

While TI-Z commended the Zambia Police Service for fairly enforcing the Public Order Act during the campaign period, it criticized the ECZ for its failure to enforce its regulatory powers, particularly in addressing the distribution of money and gifts during the election.

Gender inclusion was another area of concern. 

He noted the absence of female candidates in the Kawambwa by-election, as all four political parties fielded only male nominees.

 Additionally, TI-Z condemned political violence by UPND and New Congress Party supporters and urged for stronger punitive measures against those involved in violence during the campaign and on election day.

He said TI-Z plans to continue monitoring upcoming elections, including those in Petauke and Pambashe, by using a web-based tool to track political party campaign spending. 

This tool will help inform TI-Z’s Elections Monitoring Report, which is set to launch in March 2025, promoting the organization’s goal of free and fair elections in Zambia.

TI-Z also previewed the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Zambia Bribe Payers Index (ZBPI) reports, which will be released in February 2025. 

The CPI ranks countries based on public sector corruption, while the ZBPI evaluates the extent of bribery by foreign companies. 

He encouraged stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the methodology behind these reports to ensure informed reactions when the findings are published.

As Zambia prepares for its upcoming by-elections, Nyambe called for electoral reforms and stronger regulatory frameworks remains a critical part of the ongoing conversation about the future of Zambia’s democracy.