CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Moses Chitendwe, Zambia, October 1999
THEME = POLITICS
Since the introduction of multipartyism in Zambia following the
one-party rule of former president
Dr Kenneth Kaunda from 1973 until his historic downfall in 1991, the people of Zambia
have been watching to see how the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD)
has applied itself to the sensitive issue of good governance
Zambia's Constitution was reviewed in 1996 and since then it has been a centre of controversy among politicians and the civil society. President Frederick Chiluba's MMD government has been accused of not being a listening government with a "human head and heart" because of its intransigence in addressing the contentious issues and ambiguities in the Constitution.
Cosmetic attempts to address such issues, have been made through the protracted inter-party talks which have dragged on for three years, without achieving any tangible results in changing the political landscape which is the domain of the ruling MMD. The "talks-about-talks" are still in progress with little, if any, hope for their success.
Dr Kaunda's United National Independence Party (UNIP), had its own reasons to boycott the 1996 Presidential and Parliamentary elections which were clouded by the issues of citizenship and the qualifications for standing as a presidential candidate - an obvious attempt to bar Dr Kaunda from contesting because of his Malawian parents.
Poor governance, coupled with high levels of corruption by government officials, has not escaped the ears and eyes of the international donor community, who have shown reluctance to release their money for Zambia's Balance of Payments support. This has made the annual budgets very difficult to implement.
The MMD seems to have got the message, as the party is now clamouring for good governance. The MMD Cabinet has approved, in principle, to hold consultations on the National Capacity Building Programme for Good Governance (NCBPGC) in Zambia.
From July to August 1999, consultation Workshops were conducted in Southern, Eastern, Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces. The Workshops focused on the parameters of good governance, especially on constitutionalism, human rights, electoral process, accountability and transparency and many other major areas of concerns.
In Lusaka, the two-day Workshops held at the Inter-Continental Hotel from August 24 to 25, did not meet with support from some opposition political parties and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) who feel the government-stipulated strategies in the good governance document, are merely "cosmetic" in order to hoodwink donors for their much-needed balance of payments support.
The NGO Co-ordinating Committee (NGOCC) and its affiliates boycotted the Workshops because they considered that the MMD has, for a long time, failed to address the issue of good governance, by denying the people opportunities to participate in all decision-making processes aimed at national development. In its policy statement on the NCBPGG, the NGOCC chairperson, Inonge Wina, "smells a rat" about the whole thing, saying: "Most of the institutions listed in the governance document have numerous operational problems that render them almost totally ineffective. While the strategies to resuscitate these institutions may appear to be excellent, there is usually lack of political will to implement them, as evidenced by inadequate funding to key institutions. As Zambians we are tired of these consultative processes that bear no fruit. Government has developed a habit of taking the Zambian people for granted by pretending to be a listening government. Many commission reports to which the humble people of Zambia contributed, have continued to gather dust on the shelves of the so-called powers-that-be."
The NGOCC is, therefore, sceptical that the contributions to the NCBPGG will be taken seriously by the MMD government. Wina adds: "In view of this, the NGOCC and its affiliates have decided to boycott this consultative process. We have talked enough as a country. It is now time for action. The document of governance offers no new ideas. All issues contained in the document have been deliberated over and over without any concrete actions on the part of the government".
Commenting on the NCBPGG document, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), a local civic and human rights NGO says in its submissions, that the government will this time take a serious view and undertake to implement the recommendations from the Workshops. "We believe that good governance is critical to national stability and prosperity. Furthermore, in spite of the disappointing experience of lack of political or good faith on the part of government to address the concerns and recommendations regarding good governance, the FODEP is hoping that this particular consultation is for real. Like many Zambians, we are looking forward to a break from endless consultations whose findings and recommendations are never ever translated into tangible public policy action or legal forms."
The FODEP feels that it is not in anybody's interest, not even those in power, to continue ignoring popular demands for democratic reforms, years after the country reverted to multi-party democracy. "Genuine democratic reforms, in terms of political attitude towards issues of governance, empowering, democratising and liberating institutions of democracy; legal and administrative reforms compatible with the guiding spirit of multi-party democracy and pluralistic society are urgently needed before the next millennium."
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement