PF Uses $1 Million Fire Trucks On Campaign Trail

Civil society group Transparency International Zambia have condemned the repeated use of public resources in political campaigning by the Patriotic Front, including the infamous 42 fire trucks purchased by the government for US$1 million each. 

One of the trucks, which sparked the memorable “42-for-42” protests in 2017, was spotted outside Mulungushi University in Central Province, helping to mount a Patriotic Front Billboard. 

TI-Z say they are concerned that the “continued misuse of public resources to support the campaigns of the ruling party is skewing the political playing field in a manner that will not promote the conduct of free and fair elections.”

They have urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to bear down on the issue and send a strong message that public resources cannot be used for political gain. 

The fire trucks in question made headlines around the world in 2017, when they became the subject of high profile anti-corruption protests. Six activists, including Laura Miti of the Alliance for Community Action and the musician Pilato, staged a protest outside parliament in September to highlight the government’s abuse of public funds in purchasing the trucks for an alleged cost of $42 million. 

The activists were arrested and charged with “disobeying lawful orders”. They later suffered judicial harassment, appearing in court several times over the following year only for their trial to be repeatedly postponed. Worse still, Pilato was forced to flee to South Africa after receiving threats for his song Koswe Mupoto, which carries a strong anti-corruption message. 

In the lead up to this August’s general elections, the Patriotic Front has been repeatedly accused of using public funds to benefit its political campaign. In June, TI-Z flagged presidential running mate Nkandu Luo for “blatant abuse of public resources” after she accompanied the republican Vice President Inonge Wina on official government trips in order to interact with the electorate and engage in campaigning. 

The group once again urged the ECZ to investigate the matter but no response has been forthcoming.