Desperate PF Spend Four Times More On Billboards Than UPND

Campaign financing estimates from Transparency International Zambia reveal that the amount spent on billboards by the Patriotic Front last month was more than four times that spent by the United Party for National Development. 

Official figures show that in May alone, the PF spent in excess of K2.9 million on 208 billboards around the country. The UPND, meanwhile, put up only 24 billboards at a cost of K648,000 - a mere quarter of the ruling party’s expenses. The PF’s closest spending rivals were the Socialist Party, who have at least 70 billboards up, costing K864,000. The Democratic Party has 4 billboards, costing K864,000.

These exorbitant spending figures are the latest sign that the PF is growing increasingly desperate in its attempts to win over voters. Last Saturday pictures of a PF billboard near Lusaka went viral on account of the sign’s poor spelling and grammar. 

The billboard congratulated President Lungu on the recent ruling at the Constitutional Court, which declared that the president was eligible to seek a third term in office. Laura Miti, executive director at the Alliance for Community Action, highlighted the absurdity of congratulating the president on the mere eligibility to run. 

Billboards have become an increasingly contentious issue in the run up to the country’s general elections on August 12th. At the beginning of the campaign season in May, PF cadres were accused of burning down a UPND billboard near Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, just days after it was first put up.

 Reacting to this act of political aggression, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema remained calm, stating, “They can burn all our billboards like they have been blocking our mobilisation activities, but they will not burn your voters cards.” 

He urged his supporters not to retaliate but to take action with their votes and with their voices. Even after more billboards were burned down in early June, the presidential candidate maintained his message of peaceful change. 

“This is the kind of lawlessness and primitiveness we have to root out in this country,” he said. 

A billboard near Lusaka congratulating President Lungu on his eligibility to run - with the word ‘declaration’ spelled wrong.