US Senator Blasts Lungu For Democratic Backsliding, Suggests Elections May Not Be Fair
The Chairman of the United States’ Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, has criticised President Lungu for increasing the levels of authoritarianism in Zambia and overseeing the erosion of the country’s democracy.
In a statement to the upper house, Senator Menedez accused President Lungu of “erasing” the “monumental contribution” of President Kenneth Kaunda, who paved the way for democracy to take root in Zambia. He called on political leaders to “reverse the democratic backsliding that has occurred in Zambia under President Lungu”.
The U.S. lawmaker cited increasing levels of political violence under President Lungu’s Patriotic Front, as well as the president’s decision to deploy troops on the ground ahead of tomorrow’s elections, as evidence of Zambia’s slow descent into totalitarianism.
He also highlighted Zambia’s worsening human rights situation, which has grown progressively dire under the Patriotic Front. The restricting of opposition parties, limits to civil society participation and the curbing of free expression are all serious causes for concern, according to Menendez.
Most shockingly, the senator called into question the validity of Zambia’s upcoming elections, saying that “in a free and fair vote, [Zambians] might very well reject President Lungu’s bid for reelection. But I fear they may not have that opportunity”.
Several issues already hang over tomorrow’s vote, not least the validity of the voters’ roll. Back in March, historian and political commentator Sishuwa Sishuwa warned that the register was massively biased in favour of the Patriotic Front, with the number of registered voters rising in government safe seats while simultaneously falling in areas likely to vote for opposition parties.
In Western Province, for example, which in 2016 backed the UPND, the number of registered voters fell by over 51,000. Meanwhile, in President Lungu’s home seat of Eastern Province, the number of voters has increased by more than 120,000.
There are other problems too. The last minute introduction of biometric voting machines in some urban constituencies has led many to believe the government is trying to deter citizens from casting their votes by slowing down the verification process.
Dr Nicole Beardsworth of the University of Warwick warned that these machines will be “deliberately used to slow down - and hence deter - voting in urban areas, where support for [Hakinde] Hichilema appears to be growing”.
Senator Mendez’s statement ended by calling on President Lungu’s government to commit to holding free and fair elections and to “ensure transparency” in the process by allowing election monitors to do their job without restrictions.
The government has since responded to the senator’s comments, saying they are “totally false” because “no individual has been arrested for exercising their democratic right”. This comes just a few days after UPND running-mate Mutale Nalumango was arrested while campaigning in Nchelenge District.