SPEAKING on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview, British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicolas Woolley described Zambia as a beacon of democracy, noting that despite democracy being under pressure globally, the country has recorded “a great number of positives”.
We agree.
Zambia’s democratic journey has been nothing short of remarkable. The country has scored and continues to score highly in the enhancement of its democratic space.
In March this year, a leading international organisation that studies the quality of democracy around the world and ranks the performance of countries, Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), ranked Zambia number three out of nine countries that have stalled dictatorship and reinstated democracy.
Late last year, President Hichilema assented to the Access to Information bill, which had been in Parliament for over 20 years. This came barely a year since the country abolished the death penalty and just over a year since enacting the Children’s Code Act.
These measures have enhanced the country’s democratic space by creating an environment where citizens can freely access information, engage in open discourse, and hold those in power accountable.
The enactment of the Access to Information law and the repeal of the Defamation of the President law demonstrates the UPND government’s commitment to promoting the principles of transparency and accountability – key attributes of any functioning democracy.
The repeal of the Defamation of the President law, in particular, has resulted in citizens being free to express their opinions without fear of persecution, a fundamental right in any thriving democracy.As Mr Wooley said, the almost twenty-fold increase in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the formation of CDF committees to administer the fund have enhanced democracy by giving locals a bigger say in their development journey.
And, in keeping with his government’s commitment to promoting human rights, President Hakainde Hichilema has repeatedly emphasised to the police command to ensure that they thoroughly investigate all cases before making any arrests. He has also directed that all suspects should be given bail when facing bailable offences.
Despite these advancements, some opposition leaders and members have made assertions that Zambia’s democratic space has shrunk, citing the arrests of opposition leaders accused of corruption. It is important to set the record straight: being asked to answer to charges of corruption does not amount to persecution, but rather facing the consequences of one’s illegitimate actions.
The rule of law must apply equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. The fight against corruption is a cornerstone of democratic governance, and those accused of such offences must be held accountable. It is not a politically motivated witch-hunt, but rather a necessary step towards ensuring that power is not abused and that public trust is upheld.
UPND’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law is evident in its actions, and we must commend the party for its efforts in strengthening our democratic institutions and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.
As Mr Woolley said, no democracy is perfect; “we are all learning”.
As a party, UPND can only do so much to enhance our democracy. The onus is on every citizen to ensure that they, in their individual capacity, build on the gains of UPND and enhance the country’s democracy further and work towards a more inclusive country for all Zambians.
Govt’s commitment to democracy commendable
SPEAKING on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview, British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicolas Woolley described Zambia as a beacon of democracy, noting that despite democracy being under pressure globally, the country has recorded “a great number of positives”.
We agree.
Zambia’s democratic journey has been nothing short of remarkable. The country has scored and continues to score highly in the enhancement of its democratic space.
In March this year, a leading international organisation that studies the quality of democracy around the world and ranks the performance of countries, Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), ranked Zambia number three out of nine countries that have stalled dictatorship and reinstated democracy.
Late last year, President Hichilema assented to the Access to Information bill, which had been in Parliament for over 20 years. This came barely a year since the country abolished the death penalty and just over a year since enacting the Children’s Code Act.
These measures have enhanced the country’s democratic space by creating an environment where citizens can freely access information, engage in open discourse, and hold those in power accountable.
The enactment of the Access to Information law and the repeal of the Defamation of the President law demonstrates the UPND government’s commitment to promoting the principles of transparency and accountability – key attributes of any functioning democracy.
The repeal of the Defamation of the President law, in particular, has resulted in citizens being free to express their opinions without fear of persecution, a fundamental right in any thriving democracy.As Mr Wooley said, the almost twenty-fold increase in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the formation of CDF committees to administer the fund have enhanced democracy by giving locals a bigger say in their development journey.
And, in keeping with his government’s commitment to promoting human rights, President Hakainde Hichilema has repeatedly emphasised to the police command to ensure that they thoroughly investigate all cases before making any arrests. He has also directed that all suspects should be given bail when facing bailable offences.
Despite these advancements, some opposition leaders and members have made assertions that Zambia’s democratic space has shrunk, citing the arrests of opposition leaders accused of corruption. It is important to set the record straight: being asked to answer to charges of corruption does not amount to persecution, but rather facing the consequences of one’s illegitimate actions.
The rule of law must apply equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. The fight against corruption is a cornerstone of democratic governance, and those accused of such offences must be held accountable. It is not a politically motivated witch-hunt, but rather a necessary step towards ensuring that power is not abused and that public trust is upheld.
UPND’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law is evident in its actions, and we must commend the party for its efforts in strengthening our democratic institutions and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability.
As Mr Woolley said, no democracy is perfect; “we are all learning”.
As a party, UPND can only do so much to enhance our democracy. The onus is on every citizen to ensure that they, in their individual capacity, build on the gains of UPND and enhance the country’s democracy further and work towards a more inclusive country for all Zambians.