Zambia Media Critique

An effort to use tribalism and regionalism tactics and antics to disadvantage the opposition in upcoming general elections has terribly backfired on Zambia’s ruling party, Patriotic Front, forcing President Lungu to call for an immediate ceasefire. Featuring on National Television on the evening of Sunday 10 th January, 2016, chief government spokesperson and senior party functionary Chishimba Kambwili accused Zambians from the southern part of the country of rejecting his party in every election on the basis of tribe. According to him even the son of God Jesus Christ would not stand a chance if he stood for election against a candidate from that region. Zambia’s Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda was also quoted encouraging the people of Eastern Province to vote for their tribesmen in the forthcoming Presidential and General Elections. The ranting of senior members of the ruling party have not gone down well with Zambians from all walks of life who have loudly condemn...

ON January 5, 2016 Zambia’s sixth President Edgar Chagwa Lungu appended his signature to the most comprehensive and far reaching amendments of the country’s constitution since the country’s independence in 1964 in what he described as a watershed moment for the country. The development which is a defining moment in the country’s history has left Zambians divided with some expressing happiness and many more expressing disappointment given that the constitution they developed had been altered by a clique in parliament. The latest constitution amendments drew from the final report of the Technical Committee appointed by late President Michael Sata immediately after assuming office in 2011. The Patriotic Front, Zambia’s ruling party promised to enact a new constitution immediately after assuming power through a national referendum. However the Patriotic Front had been dragging its feet on the constitution and somewhere along the way the final draft constitution produced by the technic...