By Merlyn Mwanza
President Hakainde Hichilema says the UPND administration has continued to maintain the independence of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)
In his address during the ongoing Democracy Conference in Lusaka, President Hichilema also said the country is making steady progress towards commitments made to the people in terms of the media operating freely without interference, and that the laws that regulate the country’s freedom of assembly and association, the Public Order Act, was being reviewed to ensure fundamental freedoms of citizens are protected.
“We have continued to maintain the Independence of our Electoral Commission of Zambia, as provided for under our constitution,” he said
The rest of the Presidential speech is here below:
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
THE SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY IS INSPIRED BY OUR COLLECTIVE
DESIRE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE.
WE COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS PERTINENT ISSUES RELATED TO
OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTER DEMOCRACY IN OUR RESPECTIVE
NATIONS.
THIS SUMMIT PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO:
SHOWCASE PROGRESS ON COMMITMENTS MADE DURING
THE FIRST SUMMIT.
SHARE SUCCESS STORIES AND BEST PRACTICES.
A PLATFORM TO ANNOUNCE NEW COMMITMENTS AND
INITIATIVES.
HIGHLIGHT THE KEY THEMES FOR DELIVERING DEMOCRACY.
MOBILISE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO RESPOND TO THE
CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
THE SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY IS SIGNIFICANT TO AFRICA.
IT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR FIRM RESOLVE TO STRENGTHEN
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE ON THE CONTINENT.
A RESOLVE TO ABHOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE OF
GOVERNMENT.
A RESOLVE FOR DEMOCRACY THAT DELIVERS TANGIBLE
DIVIDENDS TO OUR CITIZENS.
AS A CONTINENT, WE ARE DETERMINED TO PROMOTE
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AS ENSHRINED IN THE AFRICAN
CHARTER ON DEMOCRACY, ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE.
WE ARE EAGER TO PROMOTE AND STRENGTHEN GOOD
GOVERNANCE BY INSTITUTIONALISING TRANSPARENCY,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY.
IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE THEME FOR THIS SUMMIT FOR
OUR CONTINENT IS, “FREE, FAIR, AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS,
AS THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.”
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
THE THEME CAPTURES THE NEED FOR COMMITMENT TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.
PRINCIPLES THAT RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS TO VOTE,
THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE, AND THE RIGHT TO
HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE CHARGED WITH THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERN.
IT FURTHER CALLS FOR COMMITMENT TO LEGISLATIVE REFORMS
THAT SEEK TO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ELECTIONS.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
DURING THE FIRST SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY THAT TOOK PLACE
IN DECEMBER 2021, PARTICIPATING HEADS OF STATES MADE
PROGRESSIVE COMMITMENTS TO MAKE DEMOCRACY MORE
RESPONSIVE AND RESILIENT.
AS A CONTINENT, OUR COMMITMENTS REAFFIRMED THE NEED
FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL AND THE NEED TO ADDRESS
THREATS TO DEMOCRACY.
AMONG THE COMMITMENTS, WE PLEDGED THE FOLLOWING:
TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION,
TO STRENGTHEN ELECTORAL INTEGRITY
TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN,
YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,
TO ADDRESS INEQUALITY ON THE CONTINENT,
TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO FOSTER DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN
RIGHTS,
TO STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURES, AND
TO USE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS TO COMBAT CORRUPTION.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
WE NOTE WITH SATISFACTION THAT MOST OF OUR COUNTRIES
HAVE MADE STRIDES IN ACTUALISING THESE COMMITMENTS AND
WE ENCOURAGE CONTINUED PROGRESS.
WE MUST WORK HARD TO IMPROVE IN AREAS REQUIRING
FURTHER ATTENTION.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS SUMMIT TO LEARN FROM
EACH OTHER.
ON OUR PART AS ZAMBIA, WE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A FREE
MEDIA, PROTECTING FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATION,
AS WELL AS ENSURING AN INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL
COMMISSION.
DURING THIS SUMMIT WE ARE PLEASED TO LEARN THAT WE ARE
MAKING STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS FULFILLING OUR
COMMITMENTS AND THE ASPIRATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE.
THE MEDIA IS OPERATING FREELY WITHOUT INTERFERENCE.
THE LAW THAT REGULATES FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND
ASSOCIATION, OUR PUBLIC ORDER ACT, IS BEING REVIEWED TO
ENSURE THAT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS OF OUR CITIZENS ARE
PROTECTED.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR
ELECTORAL BODY, THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA, AS
PROVIDED FOR UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION.
WE HAVE REPEALED THE LAW THAT CRIMINALISES DEFAMATION
OF THE PRESIDENT AND WE ARE WILLING TO DO MORE TO
STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC TENETS IN OUR COUNTRY.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
AS A CONTINENT, WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT FREE, FAIR
AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.
THIS ENSURES CREDIBILITY IN THE ELECTIONS AND
SUBSEQUENTLY LEGITIMACY OF ANY GOVERNMENT.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE NEED STRONG AND RESILIENT
GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS.
WE NEED INDEPENDENT AND CREDIBLE ELECTORAL
MANAGEMENT BODIES. WE NEED INDEPENDENT AND
PROFESSIONAL JUDICIARIES.
WE NEED INDEPENDENT, FREE AND RESPONSIBLE MEDIA.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING STRONG INSTITUTIONS, WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENABLING POLICY AND LEGAL
FRAMEWORKS.
FRAMEWORKS THAT:
GUARANTEE PREDICTABILITY OF HOLDING ELECTIONS
PROVIDE A GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINTS REDRESS
MECHANISM, AND
THAT ENSURE FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND FREEDOM OF
ASSOCIATION.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
FOR DEMOCRACY TO THRIVE OUR CITIZENS MUST FREELY
PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESSES DEVOID OF
HARASSMENT, VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION AND MALPRACTICE.
AS SUCH, THERE SHOULD BE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ACCESS
TO INFORMATION AND THE ADHERENCE TO LAW AND ORDER.
THIS WILL ALLOW OUR CITIZENS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
AND FREELY ELECT LEADERS OF THEIR CHOICE.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
CIVIL SOCIETY IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF ANY THRIVING
DEMOCRACY.
A VIBRANT AND ACTIVE CIVIL SOCIETY CONTRIBUTES TO, AMONG
OTHERS, FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS.
THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN VOTER EDUCATION, ELECTION
MONITORING AND OBSERVATION AS WELL AS CONFLICT
RESOLUTION CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASISED.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC SPACE FOR
CIVIL SOCIETY IS SUPPORTED.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
WE URGE ALL COUNTRIES ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT TO
INTROSPECT AND UNDERTAKE NECESSARY INSTITUTIONAL,
POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE REFORMS TO GUARANTEE FREE, FAIR
AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS.
THIS IS WHAT OUR PEOPLE DESERVE.
THIS IS WHAT OUR CONTINENT DESERVES.
THIS IS WHAT OUR WORLD DESERVES.
FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS, THE FOUNDATION
FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE.
IN THE WORDS OF THE LATE FORMER UNITED NATIONS
SECRETARY GENERAL, KOFFI ANNAN, “…DEMOCRACIES WITHOUT
CREDIBLE ELECTIONS ARE NO DEMOCRACIES AT ALL.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ELECTIONS ARE A MECHANISM FOR
ARBITRATION OF POLITICAL RIVALRIES, AND PEACEFUL AND
DEMOCRATIC ROTATION OF LEADERSHIP…CREDIBLE ELECTIONS
MUST MEET THREE ESSENTIAL CRITERIA: INCLUSIVENESS,
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.” END OF QUOTE.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
ALLOW US TO CONCLUDE BY EXTENDING OUR SINCERE
GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE
THIS MOMENTOUS SUMMIT A SUCCESS.
WE ALSO SALUTE ALL DELEGATES WHO HAVE COME FAR AND WIDE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SUMMIT.
WE THANK YOUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES AND GOVERNMENTS
FOR THE SUPPORT.
WE VALUE YOUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND THE FUTURE
OF OUR CONTINENT.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ON BEHALF OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA, WE
WELCOME YOU ALL TO ZAMBIA AND INVITE YOU TO STAY LONGER
AND ENJOY OUR HOSPITALITY, NATURAL BEAUTY AND
TRANQUILITY.
MERCI BEAUCOUP,
MUITO OBRIGADO,
ASANTE SANA,
ZIKOMO KWAMBIRI.
THANK YOU.
