The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is challenging the Government Joint Investigations Team (GJIT) to extend the probe on sources of campaign funds to all registered political parties in Zambia including the funds used by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), UPND, NAREP, UNIP, FDD, Heritage Party and ADD amongst others. While Zambia has a good deal to celebrate in terms of keeping pace with political transition to multiparty electoral democracy, citizens must demand more careful scrutiny of sources of funds being used by both the ruling and opposition political parties to finance their campaigns.
YALI will take keen interest to understand how the Zambian Courts will interpret provisions of Article 33(2) and Article 43(2) on the extent executive decisions the President can make and protective provision for “any act done or omitted to be done during his tenure of that office or, as the case may be, during his performance of the functions of that office.” We reiterate our call to the PF to consider supporting our earlier call for a new Constitution of Zambia that will clearly for loss of immunity by any President once voted out of power. YALI is aware that former Presidents and ruling parties resisted such a clause but eventually time always caught up with former Presidents.
[pullquote]YALI is hopeful that the State will exercise financial prudence when bringing in witnesses from Singapore, Nigeria, Mauritius, UK and Dubai, especially that that the previous prosecution of former President Chiluba only served to benefit a few people under the MMD regime at the expense of delivering development, quality healthcare and education to our people[/pullquote]
Young leaders are appalled to learn about the billions of funds Mr. Banda and the MMD spent during the last tripartite elections and we demand the GJIT extend this probe on sources of campaign funds to all political parties so we can begin to weed out dirt money from politics. This will also provide the nation with insight on sources of campaign funds and the overall expenditure Zambian politicians spend on elections. We demand therefore that the ruling PF and opposition political parties make full public disclosure of how much funds they used on political campaigns and disclose sources of that funding. YALI is hopeful that the State will exercise financial prudence when bringing in witnesses from Singapore, Nigeria, Mauritius, UK and Dubai, especially that that the previous prosecution of former President Chiluba only served to benefit a few people under the MMD regime at the expense of delivering development, quality healthcare and education to our people
In view of colossal amounts the Minister of Justice alleged the Mr. Rupiah Banda and the MMD spent in 2011 elections, YALI calls upon the Ministry of Justice and stakeholders in the electoral process to come up with long term solutions that prevent excessive spending by electoral candidates, especially the sitting Head of State. If the PF government is committed to fighting corruption and stopping political parties from using ‘dirt’ money in our electoral processes, they must not only disclose how much the MMD and PF spent on elections since 1991 and 2001 respectively but must also enact campaign finance laws that will provide for funding of political activities. Even as we welcome the move to ask Mr. Banda and the MMD account for campaign funds they used, we implore law enforcement agencies and future governments to use same standards in ensuring former leaders and political parties account for source of campaign funds during their reign.
YALI believes addressing the issue of funding for political activities is key for ensuring good governance and combating corruption. YALI believes the time is ripe for the PF Government to come up with legislation that will enforce transparency across all political parties and establishment of effective monitoring bodies of campaign funds than use laws not meant to address political funding to deal with former Head of State and political parties that fall from grace among voters.
By Isaac Mwanza democracy & Governance specialist
YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE
Ba YALI muli ba puba and it seems you have nothing better to do. I always get irritated when I read your rantings about RB issues. First I want u to know that what the gvt is doing is for your benefit tomorrow. It may cost our gvt alot of money to fight corruption today but you the future leaders will benefit tomorrow because you will have a better Zambia to leave in. Who told u fighting corruption is free? Fighting corruption is very expensive to the extent that we may even loose lives becoz money meant for medicines is channeled toward this fight but we have to it because if we dont, more people will continue dying of hunger due to having thieves in GVT. So u see it all comes to the same thing. Foolish youths
YALI is correct in their assessment of the issue at hand. It is a fact that campaign financing laws don’t exist in Zambia. If the main thrust of R.B case is the campaign funds he used, it is only fair that all Parties are probed. Secondly to avoid the R.B case from happening again, a legal framework must be put in place that will govern campaign financing as it is done in Western World.
Exactly!
Why are there no indivinduals who would single handedly take upon the percieved giants to court over abuse of office and not just wait on the government? Or there is no law for such in Zambia? i really believe that with legitimaticy and strong evidence, culprits would be cornered, maybe it should be this should be considered, otherwise, am aware in Zambia, it would be commotion as my people are so known for pull him down syndrome, therefore, if it would be approved, strict, stringent measures, laws and procedures would be sternly put in place to avoid unneccessary cases with intentions of revenge, my opnion!
What is good for the goose is good for the gander. One at a time though. Kicking dust obscures vision.
Thats the way to go!
Govt through its systems has to protect public funds.The party in power is assumed to have access to public funds and were allegations and suspicion arise,its the responsibility of govt to protect tax payer’s money.For opposition parties unless there is a specific law,they are not obliged to reveal the source of funds,they use private monies and unless there is a complainant.
So we take it that the PF as the current govt is stealing money. If you had a quarter of the brain the YALI leader has you would have understood and supported YALI in the sensible stuff they are advocating for. If indeed you are so concerned about public funds you would surely call for a campaign finance law so that all parties be they in government or opposition would adhere to.
This is good way 2 go most Governments are doing so!
We only want publick funds to be properly used by any seating govt not in campains as for opposition ofcourse if dubious were used like HH who took advantage of zambian privatised to amass wealth and today he calls himself a rich man
Boring!
Donchi kubeba
Doesn’t make sense. Tripartite elections are more costly and the party in power was the MMD!