Zambia Media Critique

By Bruce Chooma A heated debate on the feasibility of free education has ensued on the Zambian political arena ahead of the 11 th August general elections. Education is one of the key campaign issues given the high illiteracy levels in Zambia. According to UNICEF, though Zambia made commendable progress in increasing access to education and gender parity, more than a quarter million children are out of school and 47% of those enrolled in school do not complete the primary cycle.  Zambia’s leading opposition political party, the United Party for National Development UPND, has promised to deliver universal free education from primary to university level by 2018 if voted into office this August. They have set the year 2018 as the target for the realization of this aspiration. But other contenders in the race including the ruling Patriotic Front have argued that provision of free education to all Zambians was an unrealistic promise given the state of the country’s economy and...

Dishonesty, corruption and greed have characterized the adoption process of parliamentary and local government candidates ahead of this year’s general elections by leading political parties. Up to now both the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) who are the clear front runners in this year’s election have not published their full list of adopted candidates. Some adopted candidates who have received their sponsorship/adoption certificates have been posting snapshots of their certificates on social media much to the annoyance of their opponents most of whom performed better in primary elections but were left out by their parties. Sporadic intra –party protests and demonstrations have broken out in various parts of the country spearheaded by supporters of candidates who have been left out despite having proved their popularity at grassroot level and mobilizing party members to campaign for their respective parties. It is now abundantly clear to a...

Having spent nearly a fortnight in Berlin Germany at the invitation of the Konrad Adenear Stiftung (KAS) Media Foundation on a political bloggers study and dialogue tour, I wish to share some lessons on political communication. Zambia goes to the polls on August 11, 2016 in an election never before experienced in the country’s history. This is because for the first time Zambians will have to elect a President with a threshold of 50 + 1 percent votes the first of its kind since the country returned to multi-party politics. In addition to this the position of mayor is now electable and Zambia will also host a referendum on the bill of rights alongside the general elections. The political parties in Zambia require excellent mass communication skills and tools to enable them to effectively reach out to all Zambians. Our interaction with communication staff from the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin was insightful. Mobile first The penetration of mobile telecommunication t...

Zambia’s human rights record and standing continues to come under scrutiny on the backdrop of reports of escalating violations of some fundamental freedoms by the state.   Last week the US Department of State released the 2015 U.S Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Zambia. U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S government noted several instances in which Zambian government officials threatened to close, censor, or initiate legal action against radio, print, and internet media outlets over pieces considered to be critical of the president, government, or ruling party. Before the dust raised by this report could settle, Zambia received information that the United Nations Special Rapporteur   on the rights of persons with disabilities Catalina Devandas-Aguilar will carry out her first visit to Zambia from 18 to 28 April 2016. She will be examining the situation of persons with disabilities – including older persons, women and children with disabilities – as wel...

Miles hands over keys to a cab to a youth One of Zambia's most celebrated young politicians Miles Sampa may finally find a resting place politically after struggling to find his feet in politics after he lost the battle for the ruling Patriotic Front PF Presidency to Edgar Lungu. President Edgar Lungu appointed him deputy minister but he later resigned after he felt sidelined in the Patriotic Front, a party he helped to grow from the scratch with his uncle, late president Michael Sata. After his resignation from government he embarked on party mobilisation work which was not well r eceived in the rank and file of the PF. He was left with no choice but to resign from PF and resign as MP for Matero and form his own political party the Democratic Front. Whilst serving as Matero lawmaker Miles endeared himself to the people by investing his parliamentary gratuity in youth empowerment programmes in his constituency. He even bought motor vehicles and gave them away as taxis to young...

Persons with Disabilities after a meeting on the 2016 elections Zambia continues to be a beacon of light in the growth of democracy on the African continent. The country goes to the general elections in August this year under a new constitution that has significantly altered the electoral environment. The amended constitution now demands that for one to ascend to the office of president they must poll at least 50+1 percent of total votes cast and makes the position of city mayor and council chairperson electable for a period of five years. The right to participation of all citizens in the country's politics is guaranteed by the constitution. Persons with Disabilities have being fighting for recognition and protection of their rights to political and public participation through an inclusive and accessible electoral process. Zambia's 2016 elections will not only be historical on account of the constitutional changes but also because it is the first time that the count...

Zambia’s sixth President Edgar Lungu on Friday, 18th September 2015 delivered his first speech on the floor of parliament after his election to the highest office in the country. In his speech he made promises including that his government would repeal the Mental Disorders Act and enact the Mental Health Bill into law. The Mental Disorders Act of 1949 continues to annoy human rights activists in the country with its usage of derogatory expressions such as idiot and imbecile to refer to persons with mental disabilities. It was with the view of promoting the rights of persons with mental disabilities that President Lungu directed his Minister of Health to the Mental Health Bill of 2016 to Parliament in the current sitting. However a few months down the road The Minister of Health Dr Joseph Kasonde informed the national that despite the completion of the drafting process the bill would not be taken to parliament for enactment.   Disability Rights organisations have raised c...