Zambians Demand Presidential Accountability

4 September 2024
Afrobarometer (Accra)
By Edward Chibwili

Majority of citizens say the country's law requiring leaders to publicly declare their assets should be strengthened.

Key findings

  • By overwhelming majorities, Zambians say they prefer democracy to any other form of government (87%) and see their country as "a full democracy" or "a democracy with minor problems" (80%).
  • Half (50%) of Zambians believe that the country has become "more democratic" over the past five years, and nearly six in 10 (57%) think it will be more democratic than it is today in five years' time.
  • Almost three-fourths (73%) of respondents say people should have the right to criticise the president and other senior elected officials without fear of being arrested or imprisoned.
  • Zambians overwhelmingly (95%) reject one-person rule without accountability through Parliament and elections.
  • Seven in 10 citizens (70%) say the president should be accountable to Parliament for how his government spends taxpayers' money. An even greater majority (77%) say he must always obey the country's laws and courts, even if he thinks they are wrong. In practice, majorities say their president "never" ignores Parliament (62%) or the laws and courts (54%).
  • Nearly half (45%) of Zambians say President Hichilema's failure to declare his assets publicly shows a lack of commitment to fighting corruption. Majorities say the law requiring leaders to publicly declare their assets should be strengthened (65%) and the list of public officials required to declare their assets should be extended (70%).

Zambia has been one of Africa's most unwavering democracies since returning to a multiparty system almost 30 years ago (ActionAid, 2019; USAID, 2023). The country joined a small group of African states that have experienced three transfers of power via elections when its 2021 contest resulted in a clear victory for the opposition United Party for National Development (Mfula, 2021).

Marked by transparent, credible, and peaceful elections (Carter Center, 2021; Simutanyi & Hinfelaar, 2018), Zambia's parliamentary democracy, independent media, and independent oversight bodies have enforced checks and balances making accountability a central piece of governance and reducing the risk of power abuse and corruption (National Assembly of Zambia, 2022; Civicus Lens, 2021; USAID, 2023; Simutanyi & Hinfelaar, 2018).

The quality of political and economic governance in Zambia declined between 2019 and 2021, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and newly introduced restrictions on citizens' freedoms of movement, association, assembly, and expression (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2024; Civicus Lens, 2021; Méndez-Beck, 2021). Ahead of the August 2021 general election, the government and the then-ruling Patriotic Front party, with the support of a compromised police service and electoral commission, used the pandemic as an excuse to restrict public meetings while allowing the ruling party to campaign freely (Carter Center, 2021; Méndez-Beck, 2021).

After a period of rising public discontent with corruption and harassment of political opponents (Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2024, Méndez-Beck, 2021; ActionAid, 2019), the 2021 election set high expectations among the citizenry for the government to deliver on democracy's promises (USAID, 2023; Carter Center, 2021).

However, almost three years after the change of government, some stakeholders continue to complain about restrictions on freedoms of association, assembly, and expression (Daily Nation, 2023; Zambian Observer, 2023; Zambian Eye, 2023). Further, the failure of President Hakainde Hichilema and most senior government officials to publicly declare their assets and liabilities as required by law has drawn sharp public criticism (U.S. Mission in Zambia, 2023; Alliance for Community Action, 2022).

How do ordinary Zambians see the balance of power and accountability in their country?

Findings from Afrobarometer's Round 9 survey (2022) show that citizens overwhelmingly endorse democracy and reject one-person rule without accountability. Most insist that their president be accountable to Parliament and obey the country's laws and courts, even if he thinks they are wrong.

Majorities favour strengthening laws requiring leaders to declare their income and assets, and many see Hichilema's failure to declare his assets as evidence of a lack of commitment to fighting corruption.

Edward Chibwili Edward Chibwili is the national investigator for Zambia.

Read the original article on Afrobarometer.

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